inside the house.
Huang Qitong, who was lying on the bed, was enduring pain like thousands of ants eating his heart.
The most painful process of getting a tattoo is over. What is difficult now is the scab healing of the wound, the itching of the granulation, and the inability to scratch it. If you scratch it, everything will be in vain.
The only way to alleviate this pain is to divert your attention, play with your phone, watch videos, and wait until you are too sleepy to sleep again.
Even when sleeping, you have to prevent your hands from subconsciously scratching the wound, and you have to put your hands under your head.
If I can't stand it anymore, I'll take an ibuprofen.
Fortunately, after tonight, the wound has basically scabbed and healed. In three to five days, the tattoo will be finalized and it will be fine.
Huang Qitong couldn't help but feel annoyed when he thought that there would be several more days like this, or even one that would happen every once in a while.
Then he sighed softly: "Forget it, as long as it doesn't affect normal classes."
After all, it was her parents who raised her. If a family wants to maintain harmony, everyone must learn to give.
Choosing a tattoo is her attempt to make a contribution to the family.
It stands to reason that the Li people have already abolished the custom of tattooing their faces a long time ago.
There are more than 2,000 Li women with tattoos in existence, most of whom are old women. When they all grow old, the tattoo custom of the Li people will probably remain in history.
It is really surprising that Huang Qitong, a young girl who has just entered high school, suddenly asked for a tattoo.
There are no secrets in the countryside. This matter quickly spread throughout the village. Everyone knew that the daughter of the Huang Zhan family was going to get a tattoo.
Some people are curious, some are scoffing, some are admiring, and some are sighing.
Although tattooing is a characteristic folk custom of the Li people, the younger generation is highly secular and is no different from other ethnic groups. They are not sensitive to tattoos, which are similar to self-abuse.
It is something that outsiders think is magical, and has even been evaluated by folklorists as "Dunhuang murals carved on the body." However, in the eyes of some women of this ethnic group, the state is right to ban this kind of tattoos, which is too harmful to women's bodies. Especially tattoos on the face can be considered disfiguring.
However, Huang Qitong took the initiative to choose tattoos, which is simply an anomaly among the younger generation.
Of course, when some rebellious peers heard about it, they admired it and thought it was cool.
Only the old people were very sad when they heard about it.
…
In fact, Huang Qitong didn't plan to get a tattoo at the beginning, and he didn't even have much exposure to this knowledge.
Although she is from the Li ethnic group.
The cause of the incident was that her father Huang Zhan fell down while picking fruits in the orchard half a month ago.
In fact, I didn't feel any discomfort at the time, and my skin wasn't even broken.
However, something was wrong after he came back. First, he had a fever every now and then, and then his father said that when he was walking, he felt like someone was tugging on his trousers, trying to trip him.
It sounds downright creepy.
After the elders in the family heard about it, they didn't dare to delay, and quickly asked Dao Gong to do something to ward off the evil spirits.
Everything will be fine later.
But it wasn't over yet, and then it was mother Li Guangmei's turn.
I was almost injured by a falling coconut leaf while walking on the road, a water pipe burst in the shower at home, the hair dryer caught fire when I was drying my hair, the gas stove couldn't light up when I was cooking, just ask someone else... and so on.
If it were just one or two things, it could be understood as just a bit unlucky, but so many things piled up together made it impossible for Li Guangmei to live a normal life. Everyone knew that something was wrong.
There was no choice but to find the Taoist priest again to exorcise the evil spirits.
After these two incidents, Dao Gong, also known as Dong Bo in the clan, told Huang Zhan: "The reason why you are entangled is that there is no one to protect you. Your parents passed away early, and those who should protect you have already finished protecting you. The rest of the way is up to you."
"Then, what should we do?" Huang Zhan asked hurriedly.
Uncle Dong said: "Go and get a tattoo. Let's borrow the mysterious power of our ancestors again and stay safe."
This was also the most common practice among the Li people in the past.
Not many people have tattoos nowadays, but as long as there is an old lady with tattoos in the family, nothing will happen to her.
It’s just that most people don’t know it clearly.
Only people like Dao Gong and Mother, who deal with the strange gods all day long, will understand.
In short, if the Huang family wants to be safe, it is best for someone to get a tattoo.
…
Tattoos are for women.
The Huang family consists of Li Guangmei and Huang Qitong.
But there is a problem. Li Guangmei is too old. Li people get facial tattoos before they are 18 or 20 years old, before adulthood and marriage, so this task fell to Huang Qitong.
At first, Huang Zhan and his wife refused.
Because their village is highly secularized, almost no one has tattoos now, and tattoos have a great impact on girls. They are not allowed to join the army or take the public security examination.
Even many companies do not recruit people with tattoos, which will have an impact on finding a partner in the future.
They do not want their daughter to face other people's strange looks in the future and be labeled as "not a good learner" by teachers and classmates.
You must know that Huang Qitong's grades are very good, and he will have the opportunity to be admitted to a major university in the future.
To solve the problem of ghosts, there is more than just tattooing.
but!
After Huang Qitong found out, he was willing and took the initiative to ask for a tattoo.
Faced with her parents' objections, she said calmly and calmly: "As long as it's not tattooed on the face, it's acceptable. What's the big deal. Besides, I didn't plan to join the military and become a civil servant and become a teacher. I see that the grandmothers have tattoos on their hands and feet. Yes, it can’t be called ugly. It’s really not good. I said I’m from the Li ethnic group. This is our folk custom, and others will understand.”
After experiencing his parents' strange incident, Huang Qitong's cognition and mentality have quietly changed.
For her now, the greatest happiness is that her family is safe and healthy.
It's just a tattoo, it's not going to kill her, just bear with it.
However, even so, Huang Zhan and his wife still refused to agree.
Most parents are like this. They can suffer as much as they want, but they cannot let their children suffer.
But Huang Qitong was determined to help his family this time.
She was originally a very smart and independent person, and she always insisted on her own opinion on this matter.
…
Seeing that he and his parents could not reach a consensus, Huang Qitong simply invited the clan's tattoo artist, the very old Grandma Liu.
"Are you sure you want a tattoo?"
When she found Grandma Liu and made her request, she was also stunned, and then asked seriously.
Huang Qitong said firmly: "Uncle Dong said that if you want my parents to get better, it's best to get a protective tattoo. I hope grandma can help me."
Grandma Liu had also heard about the Huang family's affairs, but she was in a different profession and couldn't help, so she said, "Then stretch out your hand and let me see."
At the same time, he raised his hand to stop Huang Zhan and his wife who wanted to say something.
Huang Qitong obediently stretched out his hands.
Her hands are slender and her skin is fair, unlike someone who works in the sun all year round.
Grandma Liu grabbed her hand, looked at the palm and back of her hand, pinched the frame and felt it a little, she was a little surprised.
He turned to Huang Zhan and his wife and said, "She is very suitable for tattoos, more suitable than most people."
As a special profession of the Li people, tattoo artist has been passed down for thousands of years, so naturally some things have been passed down.
It's just that these knowledge contents are difficult to form into a system. In many cases, they cannot be described in words. It is more of an experience.
Every Li woman can get a tattoo, but the effect of the tattoo is different for everyone.
Because everyone's body is different, this also determines the number of tattoos.
It is rare to get some protection from the power of the strange god. After all, it is through the power of the strange god.
It's hard to get someone like that who can be tattooed all over the body for many years.
In her opinion, Huang Qitong is one of those who is qualified to have tattoos all over his body. To describe it in metaphysical terms, he has a special physique and bones and is one of those with outstanding talents.
The power of the strange gods that such people can borrow is often several times that of ordinary people.
If it were placed in the north, when those famous sects saw it, they would probably rush to accept it as their disciples.
It's a pity that a place like Qiongdao is in a corner, with no famous family members, and she doesn't know any big shots, otherwise she wouldn't have seen the young girl's qualifications being buried.
I sighed secretly, then get a tattoo.
Being able to use the power of the strange god to protect your family, and even the relatives and friends around you, is also an option.
…
but,
Grandma Liu also understands that today is different from the past, and the era of facial tattoos has passed.
Once she said she wanted to tattoo the little girl's whole body, Huang Zhan and his wife would definitely have to work hard with her. The little girl is so pretty, but if she can't get married because of tattoos all over her body, she'll be in trouble.
She can't harm others.
After thinking about it, Grandma Liu said, "How about tattooing it on my leg."
Huang Qitong asked: "Is it the calf or the thigh or all of them?"
"Just the calves."
Try not to be too eye-catching, and secondly, it can play a protective role. Tattooing on the calf is the best choice.
The price is that I can no longer wear skirts with bare feet.
Although Huang Qitong was a little sad, she was still willing to bear this price for her parents.
Huang Zhan sat on a low wooden chair, opened his mouth slightly, twisted his rough fingers together, and scratched his scalp: "Is there no other way?"
Grandma Liu shook her head: "Don't think that the tattoo is harming her. It's one moment and another. Maybe in the future, the custom of tattooing will be restored. I don't know."
"recover?"
The three members of the Huang family were a little confused.
The state has been abolished, how can it be restored?
Grandma Liu didn't think much about it: "Don't worry, it won't look ugly. Grandma will choose the most beautiful pattern for you."
"Um!"
Huang Qitong glanced at his parents, a little nervous and a little expectant.
Huang Zhan and his wife looked at each other, somewhat at a loss.
Their academic qualifications are not as good as their daughter's. They have been farming for most of their lives and have also gone out to work, but their horizons and knowledge are actually very ordinary.
This result was finally accepted by default.
The Strange God is an existence that the Li people fear like snakes and scorpions, but which persists throughout their lives.
…
The process of getting a tattoo is painful.
In order to prevent a struggle, Grandma Liu even asked Li Guangmei to tie up Huang Qitong.
Huang Qitong was afraid that he couldn't help but scream, so he bit a towel.
But she still overestimated her endurance and underestimated the pain of tattooing.
The long thorns of the white vine pierced into the flesh, which was really painful.
Ordinary people would have a conditioned reflex to shrink back if they were pricked once, let alone if they were pricked repeatedly. None of those people who were stabbed by Grandma Rong back then were so cruel.
Huang Qitong subconsciously bit the towel in pain, his eyes widened, veins bulged, and tears flowed out uncontrollably. His hands and feet struggled subconsciously, but they were tied up with hemp rope and couldn't move.
At this moment, Huang Qitong felt regretful.
It hurts so much!
"Hold her down!" Grandma Liu said.
Li Guangmei looked on, feeling distressed and crying, but she could only do as she was told.
Because it is taboo to interrupt the tattooing process.
As Grandma Liu moved, the only thought left in Huang Qitong's mind was pain. Until Grandma Liu said "Okay", she didn't even react, her whole body was already numb.
I saw that about ten centimeters above her ankle, the side of her calf was red. The seeping blood has been wiped clean, and seemingly simple yet mysterious patterns are tattooed on it, about the size of a palm.
Huang Qitong suddenly felt less painful. The wound seemed to be a little warm, and then felt a little cool after the heat.
Huh~
Grandma Liu was a little surprised, glanced at her, and felt a little relieved.
"Stronger than I imagined."
"What?" Huang Qitong didn't understand.
"Feel this power."
Grandma Liu stopped talking and turned to her mother: "Guangmei, get a basin of water and wipe her body. Don't touch the water for the wound first. After a few days, it won't bleed or suppurate before you take a bath."
At this moment, Huang Qitong looked like someone fished out of the water, dripping with sweat and his clothes were soaked through.
"well!"
Li Guangmei stretched out her hand and helped Grandma Liu to the door, then went to get water to wipe her daughter's body.
My daughter has suffered a lot for this family.
Wait for Huang Qitong to change clothes and come out of the room.
Huang Zhan asked hurriedly: "How is it?"
Huang Qitong smiled: "It's a bit strange. It doesn't hurt now. I feel like there is a faint special power inside."
Huang Zhan breathed a sigh of relief and scratched his head: "When I was a child, I heard from my mother that tattoos carry the power of ghosts, but I have never had one, and neither has your mother. I don't know what it is like. People in the village I rarely talk about this. I hope it can really have a protective effect."
The old father had mixed feelings in his heart, and more than once he had the idea that he was to blame for his lack of success.
However, Huang Qitong smiled and didn't care at all.
Again, as long as the family is safe and healthy, she can endure the pain and get over it.
…
It's late at night.
Huang Qitong yawned and looked at the time. Oops, it was almost 1 o'clock. She quickly put down her phone and got ready to go to bed. To prevent herself from touching the wound on her calf, she had to sleep on her side with her arms as pillow.
In a daze, I seemed to be dreaming of someone.
A very strange man.
I can't see clearly what it looks like, but it gives people the same feeling of being supreme.
He smiled and said to himself: "Go back and tell your family that you don't need to get a tattoo. Just practice the set of exercises I taught you. Practice well enough to protect your parents and even more people!"
After speaking, he pointed his hand, and a golden light flew towards him.
Then all kinds of strange knowledge came into her mind.
It's mysterious, but not difficult to understand.
Huang Qitong subconsciously followed the practice in his sleep, feeling that it was not difficult.
I don't know how much time passed until I opened my eyes and found that it was already bright outside the window.
"Um?!"
She sat up suddenly, thinking about everything that happened in her sleep, and became even more surprised, especially when she found that the exercise was deeply engraved in her mind.
Hiss~
"Isn't that a dream?"
She tried to run the technique and found that there was really a flow of Qi in her body, and her whole body suddenly became messy.
Who can tell her what's going on?
Could this be the legendary adventure? The immortal caressed my head, tied my hair and granted me immortality?
"So, do you really no longer need to get a tattoo?"
Huang Qitong hesitated, and finally decided to practice this mysterious technique first.
However--
On the first day of the new semester, she felt bad again when she saw the new version of radio gymnastics taught by the physical education teacher.
"Wait a minute, isn't this the mysterious technique I practiced? Why is it the new version of radio gymnastics?! No, radio gymnastics is much simpler. There are only movements and no luck routes..."
She was convinced that she was indeed in for an adventure.
But she became even more curious about the mysterious figure who taught her the skills in her dream.
What kind of god is he?
(End of chapter)
