On the day of the Ghost Festival.
Thirteen families took the lead in setting up rituals and setting off flames to appease the hundreds of thousands of dead people inside and outside the city.
In the sixty-four square temple, the names of gods and Buddhas in the sky were invited, Taoist priests prayed, monks chanted sutras, and all responded. Even Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, Nestorianism and other barbarian religions came to join in the fun.
As for the people, it is even more lively. In every neighborhood, wealthy households organized sacrifices for orphans, slaughtered pigs and sheep, offered melons, fruits, rice and noodles, and offered sacrifices to the ownerless souls. They also planted colorful flags, lit incense and candles, and burned paper money and paper clothes along the road.
All day long.
The paper ashes are like falling snow, and the incense smoke is like clouds steaming the city.
When the sun sets, every household comes to each river mouth to put out river lanterns. In less than half an hour, millions of lights were lit on dozens of rivers in Qiantang.
If you fly to the top of the mountain outside the city and look out, you can see the stars gathering into streams, as if the Milky Way is hanging upside down and falling into the world.
According to custom, at this time, the underworld releases the gates of ghosts, and lonely ghosts come to the human world in search of food. The living should avoid their homes and guard their doors.
But with such a good night and beautiful scenery, there are always men and women who are unwilling to be lonely and sleep for a long night. They will wear masks or face coverings to avoid being identified by ghosts and gods, and then gather their friends to enjoy the show on the streets.
As for the friends, how many are humans, how many are ghosts, and how many mysterious stories will be added after tonight, that is another matter.
When there are more tourists, businesses will follow.
According to the rules, we are not allowed to open our doors tonight. The businessman was very clever and put all the guys on the boat. It is often seen that boats loaded with flowers, lotus lanterns or exquisite masks are sold along the "Galaxy".
The most numerous of them are all kinds of food.
Sweet bean soup in front of the grocery store, Guangjia soup in Guanxiangkou, fried chestnuts in Wanshoufang, Song Wusao fish soup outside Qiantangmen, Guanfei in Yongjinmen, meat buns in Zhongmiaofang, and mutton rice in front of Zhongwa Waiting like this, Tongtong took advantage of the night to go boating and hawk.
Because it is the Ghost Festival, some of the usual methods to prevent wild ghosts from deceiving food, such as collecting money for water bowls and dotting cinnabar, are no longer used. Regardless of whether the visitor is a human or a ghost, and whether the visitor is copper coins or ghost money, they are all accepted generously. , and even did not take back the unsold items, but threw them all into the water, saying that they were feeding the poor.
Li Changan couldn't help but curse every time he saw this scene.
"The poor devils are all watching eagerly from the shore, how can they get into our mouths!"
A night of fish and dragon dance.
…………
Li Changan's name was recorded under the Fuguifang Brown Yi Gang, and he originally only shared pork with Hua Weng.
But because of what happened during the day, the ghost heads of several workshops involved also came to invite them. If you don't want to eat, you won't get anything, so Li Changan happily went over.
The scene they put on was much richer than that of the brown-clothed gang, which was a bunch of poor people. Li Changan was also rude, as if he was going to the countryside, and he wasn't even ashamed to eat and drink.
Wait until you are full of wine, food and wine and go home drunk.
The harvest is huge.
I have a good piece of mutton, and I plan to cook it tomorrow to satisfy the cravings of the young and old at the Salesian Home.
Two strips of salted pork belly are also left to the Salesian Hospital for wiping the bottom of the pot for cooking on weekdays.
There are also two dried fish, half a smoked duck, and a pork knuckle. I guess it is not a problem to exchange for some goat milk. The baby girl drinks rice soup every day.
While I was thinking wildly, I saw a monster appearing on the opposite side with my drunken eyes, holding a lantern, big and small, staggering towards me.
Huh? ! Where is the ghost?
Despite the cold wind, Li Changan woke up immediately.
Take a closer look...
"Ah? It's Brother Gui." He Wumei, who was facing me, was also startled, "Why were you born here?"
"Just came back from the city." In the middle of the night, He Wumei was dressed in white, holding a lantern in her hand, and holding two big bamboo baskets, swaying like a ghost in the road, "Where are Wuxiang going?"
"Entrusted by the neighbors to go to the river to rescue orphans."
"at this time?"
Li Changan looked around.
It was already the middle of the night, everything was quiet, not to mention the people and the ghosts had gone to rest.
He Wumei lowered her head and smiled lightly: "It's just because we missed the time."
Li Changan saw that she was struggling to hold the bamboo basket, and her usual bodyguard was not around. It just so happens that I have eaten enough incense and candles tonight, the wind is no longer like a knife, and the fog is no longer like ice, and I am temporarily forgiven by the world. Simply hang all the "catch" on your waist, take the bamboo basket, and go to Shigu with her.
…
Arrived at the river.
You can see the reed flowers undulating like snow under the moon, swaying in the wind, and reflecting the sparkling waves on the river from time to time.
The Taoist priest recognizes that he is the shore here.
Without waiting to reminisce, He Wumei continued to move forward along the river.
The tall grass ahead is dense and there may be no one there, but there is a faint trail.
Then go forward a few dozen steps along the trail.
suddenly see the light.
You can see a small river beach surrounded by mountains and low cliffs.
The reeds and tall grass were gone, leaving only green grass almost up to the ankles, dotted with various wild flowers.
A fenced garden occupies most of the space in sight.
The flowers in the garden are particularly prosperous.
He Wumei told Li Changan that this was a cemetery.
Cemetery?
After looking carefully, I found small earthbags. In front of the earthbags, there were stone towers with stacked cobblestones.
Almost all of it was submerged in flowers and plants, making it very inconspicuous.
The only eye-catching object in the garden is a small temple in the middle. It is made of bluestone blocks and is about half a person tall. The top is in the shape of an upside-down boat. All the surrounding carvings and words have been weathered by time and submerged in moss. Only the statue of the god barely retains its shape. Judging from his appearance, he looked vaguely like a dragon god, with a mythical beast that was either a cat or a dog crawling at his feet.
Could it be the infant-protecting Dragon King that few people worship anymore?
…
The big black cat has already been guarding here for a long time.
As soon as He Wumei entered the cemetery, the cat rushed over and jumped into her arms, meowing coquettishly.
Li Changan didn't join in the fun. This gangster was very vicious and would scratch anyone who came near him except He Wumei!
He put down the bamboo basket and opened it.
One basket contains incense candles, and the other basket contains rice balls made from grains and wild vegetables.
Seeing this, He Wumei quickly put down the cat and came over to help.
The two work together.
He Wumei rummaged through the earthen bags in front and offered incense one by one, while Li Changan followed behind and put rice balls on them.
It's not like Shi Gu, but more like going to the grave.
But these tombs are too small and the tombstones are too simple.
Li Changan had some vague suspicions.
"They were all children who died in infancy at the Salesian Home."
He Wumei leaned over and lit the incense candle, with a touch of compassion in her eyebrows:
"Some were abandoned in front of the Salesian Home, some were picked up from outside, and some were brought in by people who really couldn't keep them alive. Of these children, five or six out of ten died soon after they were admitted to the Salesian Home. Those who survived , either they were born with defects or acquired the root of the disease, and most of them died within two years.”
"They don't have tombstones because they don't have names. Firstly, they have no father or mother; secondly, the old people say that if a baby who died young is given a famous name, it will be tied to the world and will entangle the person who named it. So none of them have names or surnames.”
"It makes some sense."
"Really? But I have a bad habit. I thought that if I came to the human world, even if it was miserable and short-lived, I would gain nothing and leave nothing behind, so I secretly gave them nicknames so that no one else would know. "
He Wumei suddenly turned around, and she, who was always calm and gentle, showed a cunning look.
"Brother Gui, do you want to hear it?"
Li Changan is a ghost, so he can do anything for himself.
"This child was picked up from the wild five years ago. He was born very thin. I hope he will grow up well and call him Ah Dou. This doll came from the river eight years ago. I call her Lotus. That one is the name of my family. Hua Weng sent this to me after he died of illness. His eyes were round and bright, so he was called Li Nu. This one was placed in front of the door at night. It was extremely cold that night, so I called him to wait for the sky..."
He Wumei pointed out the little bumpkins one by one who were completely indistinguishable in Li Changan's eyes.
But every time she lit the incense and recited her nickname, Li Changan would also put down the rice ball and cooperate with the call.
For example: "Little A Dou, the soul is back, little A Dou. The five mothers are giving to the orphans, don't make cheers, avoid the big ghosts, come quickly and enjoy the food, and come quietly to eat. If you have been reincarnated, think of me as in vain."
Wu Niang would hide her face and chuckle lightly.
…………
Finished work.
Li Changan felt that the sacrificial incense, sacrificial wine, and sacrificial meat that he had eaten on the altar were burning together, making his chest feel hot. Just as the autumn breeze was refreshing, he felt refreshed.
When he was alive, he loved to climb high and enjoy the wind and the moon.
But ever since I became a ghost, I haven’t had a nice breeze for a long time.
It was rare tonight, so he simply opened his clothes, sat down on the spot, and let the evening breeze fill his chest.
He Wumei next to her was not coy either. She sat down and just crossed her legs, then took out a long piece of paper from her arms and folded it.
Huh?
The Taoist priest was quite surprised.
This long folded cover has wonderful patterns. If you read it correctly, this is no ordinary folded book, but a Taoist "Golden Seal and Jade Book".
Many Taoist rituals are complicated, and the number of scriptures to be recited ranges from hundreds to tens of thousands. It is inevitable that mistakes will be made, so the scriptures will be recorded on the folds, which can be used as a "prompter" and then taken out. Because of its elegant name, it is called "Jin Zhang Jade Book".
"Brother Gui, don't you know?" He Wumei said with a smile, "I was also a female crowned with a degree of ultimatum, and my Taoist name was called 'Plain Girl'."
Li Changan realized later that the white clothes she wore were originally Taoist robes, and she only had a wooden hairpin on her head. She was wearing a female crown tonight.
He Wumei from the Salesian Home, He Jiajia from Xianyi Temple, and He Sunu today, the three identities are completely different, but they can give a glimpse of the absurdity and uncertainty of life.
Li Changan has no intention of uncovering other people's scars out of curiosity.
He didn't ask, and of course He Wumei wouldn't say anything. She just spread the book on her lap and started chanting:
"At that time, the Heavenly Lord who sought to rescue the suffering, and his attendants traveled around the world in the ten directions, saving all sentient beings, escaping from the sea of suffering, and guiding them to return to the right path and avoid entering evil sects."
It's "The Supreme Sutra of Explanation of Wrongs in Three Lifetimes".
Her voice is soft, and her singing voice is strange, with an ethereal and otherworldly feeling.
This tone is called "Buxu Sheng", which is used by Taoist priests to teach scriptures and praise.
Cheap master Liu Laodao doesn't know how to do it. He puts on airs in a small household just to make people laugh. Neither does Li Changan. Is he a wild Taoist? He kills people more than sings sutras.
He Wumei's voice is gentle and clear, which complements the "buxu sound", making the chanting particularly pleasant.
Li Changan used the Dragon King Temple as a pillow, leaned back comfortably, closed his eyes and listened.
When the time comes, God will do his best.
All the noise at night suddenly became lowered and slowed down, leaving the plain girl's singing as the protagonist. The wind hummed to accompany the song, the water gurgled to harmonize, and the chirping of insects and frogs intertwined to help play the music.
The mountains, forests and rivers are all blended into the autumn wind and autumn moon in the "buxu sound".
Um? !
Li Changan suddenly opened his eyes.
There was a strange sound in the "Chorus", as if it were in the water waves.
He stood up quietly and stared.
But under the sparkling river surface, I could faintly see many dark shadows gathering towards the shore.
fish?
No!
Li Changan took out a yellow talisman and clasped it in his palm.
In the blink of an eye, a black shadow emerged from the water and climbed up the river beach. It was short and looked like a child of one or two years old, but its skin was gray and black, and its multiple ulcerated wounds turned white and rotted.
They are not living people, they are all ghost babies.
"Are they coming?" He Wumei noticed something strange about Li Changan and suddenly spoke.
Li Changan's eyes wandered: "What's coming?"
"You really can't lie."
He Wumei was silent for a while.
"Brother Gui." She called softly, "I want to see them."
"Ghosts don't look good."
"But I still want to take a look and ask." She stared at the river steadily, but could see nothing except the clear river and the white moon. "They are all too young and still ignorant. I am always worried that they will Will I be bullied by big ghosts? Do I get food and offerings during festivals? Do I still hate my parents... My nagging makes me look like an old pious woman."
She let out a low "Alas" and gently stroked her cheek.
"But I am indeed not young anymore."
Li Changan was speechless, so he had to use a talisman to help her open the gap between yin and yang, and then he heard it.
"Eh?!"
As expected, I was frightened.
As soon as the Taoist priest thought this, he realized something was wrong. His voice sounded more like surprise than fright!
He quickly looked back.
There are no dead babies with hideous faces on the river bank. They are clearly cats that are slightly transparent and emit a hazy, faint white light.
They jumped onto the river beach one after another, shaking their heads and tails to shake off the water droplets all over their bodies.
Black, white, orange, gray, tabby, raccoon-shaped, yellow-striped, three-flowered, black and white, long-haired and short-haired, with pointed tails and round ears... …
Of course, there were still a few who failed to transform. Those with a human body and a cat face, and those with a cat body and human legs, were all slapped back into the water by the big black cat.
Then the cats that had passed the quality inspection were like the charcoal balls before, flying towards He Wumei, meowing and acting coquettishly.
Some squatted on Wu Niang's lap and looked at her pitifully; some squeezed into Wu Niang's arms and rubbed their round heads against her; some lay on top of Wu Niang's head, using themselves as soft hats; some put their heads up The tails circled around her; some popped out meat balls and stepped on her breasts on her back...
In the blink of an eye, He Wumei's body was covered with cat bugs.
"You have such beautiful eyes, are you a raccoon slave?"
"Little Adolf, why are you still so thin?"
"Haha, it sounds so nice, it must be a bell."
The meows came and went, and He Wumei couldn't get over it with her hands.
The Taoist priest felt itchy, so he took off a piece of bacon, cut it with a knife and fed it.
But when these cats ate meat, they screamed "meow, meow", and the Taoist priest stretched out his hand to think of rua, and then started to explode their hair.
I don’t understand fairness and integrity at all!
Helplessly, I caught sight of an extremely thin little guy who was squeezed out by the group of cats.
The Taoist priest cut two pieces of pork and invited it over. The little guy sniffed it carefully and finally couldn't help "snoring" and immersed himself in eating.
The Taoist priest was overjoyed and took the opportunity to extend Lushan's claws.
As soon as the cat raised its head, its fluffy cat face instantly turned back into the gray-grey face of a dead baby.
"..."
Li Changan walked away angrily and took a few rice balls to the river.
There were several ghost babies soaked in the water who had not yet been able to transform themselves. When they saw the Taoist priest, they bared their teeth at him.
Throw down the rice balls and marinated meat, and grab the food with a bang.
Then continue to grin.
The Taoist priest is not angry either. He is used to the virtues of these civet cats. Furthermore, they are ghost babies and have the most resentment among ghosts, so what can they be demanding about?
In front of the Dragon King Temple, He Wumei finally remembered her purpose, hugged the troublesome cat away, and continued to chant the Taoist scriptures.
The gurgling sound attracted the ghost babies to eagerly gather on the shore, but they did not dare to show their faces for fear of scaring the chanter.
The Taoist priest sighed softly and said "Infinite Heavenly Lord".
Then he sat down cross-legged and chanted:
"Luck in the morning and dusk shines brightly in the past and present. All kinds of things are endowed and formed. Wrong karma is mistakenly stained, and the three generations invade each other. The spirit of righteousness can relieve the souls of grievances..."
The sound of the sutra is carried far by the wind.
The river is sparkling, and the bright moon is approaching.
What a great Zhongyuan night.
