The three major ghost festivals in ancient times include the Tomb-Sweeping Festival on the 108th day after the winter solstice, the Hungry Ghost Festival on July 15th, and the Ancestor Worship Festival on the first day of October in the lunar calendar.
The Ancestor Worship Festival is also known as the Cold Clothes Festival because on this day, people pay homage to the deceased, so it is called sending cold clothes.
Zhu Yuanyu woke up early in the morning when he was licked by his fur head. Looking at its short legs, he didn't know how it climbed onto the bed.
After patting Maotou's little butt, Zhu Yuanyu got out of bed, put on his clothes, and washed his face with the water brought by the maid. The sticky area licked by Maotou instantly felt much better.
When he saw the maid coming in with a new set of cotton-padded clothes, he was a little confused as to why she was bringing out the cotton-padded clothes before it was winter.
"This cotton coat..."
The maid bowed and put the cotton-padded clothes on the bed, and replied: "Master, this is what my wife ordered, please be sure to put it on."
Zhu Yuanyu walked to the bed and squeezed the cotton-padded coat. It was quite thick. It was only autumn now, so it was okay to wear a coat, but the cotton-padded coat was too much. He was not afraid of the cold.
"Did Madam say anything?" Zhu Yuanyu put one hand through Mao Tou's belly, picked him up and placed him on the ground. Mao Tou knew how to go to bed but couldn't get out of bed, so he was spinning around on the bed anxiously.
As soon as he got off the ground, Mao Tou rushed out. It looked like he had been holding back for a while.
The maid carefully avoided Mao Tou, she seemed a little afraid of dogs.
"Back to the young master, Madam said that this Winter Clothes Festival, the cotton coat was sewn by the Madam herself, and the Young Master put it on to change the season." The maid paused and added: "You only need to put it on once, and you can take it off after wearing it. .”
Zhu Yuanyu understood this. Indeed, on October 1st of the folk lunar calendar, the living not only have to send cold clothes to the deceased for the winter, but they also have to carry out some traditional activities that symbolize winter. On this day, women prepare their clothes beforehand. Take out the cotton-padded clothes and let your children and husband wear them to change the season. If the weather is still warm at this time and it is not suitable to wear cotton, you should also urge your children and husband to try it on for good luck.
It was Zhu Yuanyu's first time to try this custom. The reason why he knew about it was that this scene happened every year in his memory.
"I see."
He took off his coat and put on a cotton coat. After a while, he felt stuffy.
He hurriedly took it off before he started sweating. It was fine, but it would be troublesome to take a shower and change clothes if he really got sweaty.
"Okay, put your clothes away."
After saying this, Zhu Yuanyu walked out. Mao Tou had been taking a dump for a while, so he went over to see what was going on.
The maid got happy, folded the cotton-padded clothes and put them in the closet.
Mao Tou thought of hissing under the orange sapling. Unexpectedly, a big black shadow was cast. It looked back warily, and Li Zhuangzhuang caught it.
The fur was fluttering and struggling. It also knew that this person was someone it knew, so it did not bite Li Zhuangzhuang with its baby teeth. However, it was really anxious and kicked hard with its short legs.
Li Zhuangzhuang grasped the hair tightly with his two big hands and said in a rough voice: "You can't pee here anymore. What if you stink the young master? You little thing, I'd better find a place for you!" "
Just as he was about to leave, he felt his arms getting wet.
Li Zhuangzhuang:! ! !
Mao Tou couldn't hold it in anymore and finally peed. After peeing, he still had a mysterious look on his face, but the smell of urine was too stinky. He struggled even harder, trying to escape from this place that he had defiled.
Li Zhuangzhuang's eyes widened and his hand loosened unconsciously. Mao Tou seized the opportunity and fled the scene of the crime quickly.
It was such a big map, wet and dripping with water.
He was stunned, not expecting this result at all. Looking at the fluff flying in the wind, he shouted: "Stop——"
After shouting, he started to chase.
Zhu Yuanyu just walked to the front yard of the study and saw Mao Tou in front and Li Zhuangzhuang chasing each other behind.
"Woof!"
Seeing his master, Mao Tou ran faster.
"What's going on?" Zhu Yuanyu knelt down, jumped up cleverly and got into his arms.
Li Zhuangzhuang's originally fierce face turned into a little aggrieved when he saw Zhu Yuanyu. He pointed at Mao Tou and complained: "Master, it peed on my clothes! Such a big area!" He said that he was wet with urine. Show Zhu Yuanyu the place.
Zhu Yuanyu was amused by the tone of Li Zhuangzhuang's daughter-in-law. She patted Mao Tou's head and said with a smile: "I asked why it took so long. It turns out... Zhuangzhuang, please go change into clean clothes first."
Li Zhuangzhuang touched the back of his head and glared at Mao Tou. Mao Tou turned his butt towards him. He went to change clothes in frustration.
After Li Zhuangzhuang left, Zhu Yuanyu poked Mao Tou's head and cursed with a smile: "I won't teach you a lesson next time."
Maotou seemed to know that Zhu Yuanyu was talking about him, so he raised his head and stuck out his tongue to lick him.
Zhu Yuanyu turned his head to the side with a look of disgust, and said with a smile: "It's too late to please me now."
After saying that, he put down his hair and walked into the study.
After thinking for a while, he said to the servant standing in the study: "Breakfast will be served in the study."
The servant bowed and went to the kitchen.
After breakfast and reading for a while, the sun had already risen.
"When is it?" Zhu Yuanyu asked as he moved his body.
No one answered.
Zhu Yuanyu turned around and saw that Li Zhuangzhuang and Mao Tou were eye to eye!
He smiled helplessly and said louder: "Zhuangzhuang, when is it?"
Li Zhuangzhuang woke up with a start and said quickly: "Master, it's time!" He lowered his head guiltily. He was distracted. How could he protect the master like this? His duty was to protect him!
Thinking about it, Li Zhuangzhuang became more and more ashamed, and suddenly knelt down on one knee to apologize to Zhu Yuanyu.
"Master, I was distracted! It's not good for me to do this! I was wrong! There will be no next time!"
Zhu Yuanyu smiled without any fuss, "Get up."
Li Zhuangzhuang grinned and stood up neatly. This time he did not desert again.
Zhu Yuanyu also stood up. He was going to worship his ancestors today and it was almost time.
The tablets of the ancestors of the Zhu family are not only enshrined in their hometown, but also in Zhu's Mansion in the capital. Because of the long distance, Zhu Yuanyu and the others did not go back to their hometown. This time they worshiped their ancestors in Zhu's Mansion.
There are many things to prepare for ancestor worship, and the specifications adopted by classes with different statuses are also different. While worshiping ancestors, some places also offer sacrifices to gods of heaven and earth, and in other places they also worship the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother. Zhu Yuanyu's family does not have this custom. They only need to place the family tree and ancestral tablets in the upper hall of the home, place the offering table, and arrange the incense burner and offerings.
The offerings prepared by the Zhu Mansion include sheep, five bowls of vegetables, five-color snacks, five bowls of rice, a pair of jujube cakes and a large steamed bun, which are commonly known as the "Heaven and Earth Offerings".
The process is that the head of the ceremony, Zhu Dafu, first burns three sticks of incense, bows before praying for a good harvest, and reads blessings; the last step is to burn paper, which is "giving money and food". When burning silk and money and paper, Zhu Dafu must be in front of the god. Offer a glass of wine.
In an important part of the sacrificial process, gongs, drums or string accompaniments are played several times to add excitement to the ritual. After the sacrifice is over, the pork, mutton and other sacrifices must be distributed to the representatives participating in the sacrifice, so that the sacrifice is completed.
The whole family must dress up during the sacrifice, otherwise it will be disrespectful to the ancestors.
It was rare for Zhu Yuanyu to wear a dress, and he was solemn and solemn. Zhu Dafu beside him was also in a dress, which was more prosperous than Zhu Yuanyu's.
Only the father and son were worshiping the ancestors. According to the ancestral rules, women were not allowed to participate, so Wang Chunmei was busy with other trivial matters in the backyard.
After the father and son had been busy for a long time, they finally completed the sacrificial process and could finally rest.
Zhu Yuanyu didn't say anything, and immediately changed into a comfortable and simple robe.
When worshiping his ancestors, Zhu Yuanyu was afraid that Maotou would disturb him, so he gave it to Li Zhuangzhuang for his care.
Back in the study, it turned out that one person and one dog were fighting each other, and Mao Tou was well-behaved. Zhu Yuanyu told the dog not to leave the study, and it really followed through. It was quite smart, as if it could understand people's words.
Seeing the figure of his master from a distance, Mao Tou started jumping on the spot, but never crossed the threshold.
Li Zhuangzhuang thought it was going out to cause trouble, so he stared at it nervously. Unexpectedly, he was happy to see his owner.
"Thank you for your hard work, Zhuangzhuang. You don't need to guard here anymore. Lunch should be ready. You can go eat first."
Zhu Yuanyu let Mao Touchi bite the hem of his robe and said with a smile.
…
Qi Ao was in the courtyard listening to the sound of gongs, drums or string accompaniment, and fell into deep thought.
I don’t know when I will have the opportunity to go back to the mountains to visit my adoptive father’s grave. There must be weeds growing in front of the grave now.
It was only after he asked Cui'er that he found out that today was the Ancestor Worship Festival. In the past, it was the villagers from Dashan who started worshiping their ancestors before he joined in. It was really difficult for him, an orphan, to remember these customs.
In fact, Zhu Yuanyu didn't force him to stay. He burned the deed of betrayal himself and was now a free man. But for some reason he just didn't want to leave, but he couldn't find a reason to stay - Zhu Yuanyu was not short of money. There is no shortage of people either.
Qi Ao had thought about being a bodyguard for Zhu Yuanyu, just like Li Zhuangzhuang he saw that day, who could follow Zhu Yuanyu at any time.
He quietly inquired about Cui'er and learned that Li Zhuangzhuang seemed to be a man who had practiced and had real kung fu, and how could he, a wild boy who made a living by hunting and only had brute strength, be able to become Zhu Yuanyu's Personal bodyguard?
The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became.
He would dream about Zhu Yuanyu every night these days. The scene made him really embarrassed, ashamed, and longing for him in his heart. Sometimes he felt that something was wrong with him. Why was a man thinking about women instead of women? Someone who is also a man?
He admitted that Zhu Yuanyu's appearance was handsome, and the feeling she gave him was even more mysterious, deeply attracting him. Could this be the reason why he dreamed of him lying on the bed disheveled every night?
Qi Ao was obsessed with this feeling of depravity, as if he was poisoned. At the same time, he reminded himself that this was a kind of stain and disrespect to Zhu Yuanyu.
He was really conflicted.
