(The festival is on schedule, how can you miss it)
Soon, word of the Lianli Maple Tree in Granny Wuyan's house spread throughout the entire Witch Clan. The people of the Wu Clan believed that it was the work of the gods and that Granny Wuyan's soul wanted to continue to protect the Witch Clan.
In any case, this matter can be regarded as coming to an end. However, Lanfeng and the others came here to look for the descendants of the Wuyue clan and the Great Sage Ventilation. However, up to now, there is still no substantial progress in this clue.
Lanfeng thought that there was no way to go on like this. The three of them alone could not solve this mystery. If Mo Yun and Mu Zhizhi had the help of moving mountains and observing the earth, they would probably be able to find it faster than wandering around here. some.
Thinking about it like this, Lan Feng had the idea of looking for Mo Yun and the two of them in Shiwan Mountain.
The next morning, Lanfeng packed up his clothes and told Xia Jiu about his departure. But Jiaoer was muttering beside her. She took Ruoxue's hand and said, "Sister Ruoxue, tell Brother Lanfeng that you should wait until the New Year before leaving..."
Xia Jiu saw the childish expressions on the three people's faces, and heard that they wanted to go towards Shiwanda Mountain, so he said: "You kids have also seen it. It's snowing outside the window. Some people here are very popular. If you come in at this time, Mountains, regardless of whether you can bear the cold or not, even finding food is difficult.
Just listen to my uncle's advice. Just like Jiao'er said, after the New Year, I will bring my dog and dry food to send you off. When I was young, I went to Shiwanda Mountain several times. I am more familiar with the mountains here than you are.
You see you guys came in such a hurry, uncle didn’t even take you for a walk. It happens to be the Chinese New Year, and you can also feel the New Year flavor of my Wu clan. "
Xia Jiu really likes Lan Feng and the other three. Although these three people have childish looks on their faces, their words and conversations lack the arrogance they should have and are more sincere.
Of course Xia Jiu didn't know the identities of Lan Feng and the others, but this sincerity made him feel approachable to a man who grew up in the Wu clan.
Ruoxue pinched Jiaoer's cheek, then turned to Lanfeng and said, "How about we listen to Uncle Jiu and leave after the Chinese New Year. With such a rush all the way, it's time to take a break. That thing is also There’s no rush.”
Lan Feng saw that this family was very enthusiastic, and thought about it. After coming out of Luzhou, this group of people had indeed been running around non-stop for days. No matter how urgent the matter is, you always need to stop and think carefully.
"Okay," Lan Feng took a deep breath. He stepped forward and touched Jiao'er's head and said, "Then we can leave after the Chinese New Year. Uncle Jiu, we will keep harassing you for a while longer."
"Ha ha ha!" It won’t work without some luck!”
After hearing this, Lan Feng and the other three nodded in agreement. Jiao'er, seeing Lan Feng agree, also hugged Ruoxue.
After noon, Lan Feng and the other three followed Xia Jiu and Jiao'er out.
Jiao'er led Ruoxue and walked in front, while Xia Jiu and Lan Fenghai Ye Sheng walked behind, carrying a basket. I walked around the Diaolou Walled City in a hurry that day, and at night I only took a general look at it under the lanterns, but I didn't wander around during the day.
Stalls along the stone road display colorful dishes, red and white pork is hung in the butcher shop, black fish is kept in the water tank, and some shops are filled with red paper lanterns and couplets and firecrackers.
"Jiao'er," Xia Jiu said, "go to your aunt's place and hold the red paper firecrackers. Don't you love playing them the most?"
After hearing this, Jiaoer felt happy and immediately rushed into the grocery store with Ruoxue.
"Two kids, come, follow me to buy some food." Xia Jiu brought Lan Feng and Hai Yesheng to a butcher shop. When the butcher saw Xia Jiu coming, he shouted: "Brother Jiu, why are you today?" Just come, if it's later, the casings will be gone."
Xia Jiu said with a smile: "You kid, don't come here. I asked you to keep it for me. If it's gone, I'll take my wife and children to your house to eat on New Year's Eve!"
The butcher was also happy. He took out a large bag of wrapped broad leaves from under the case, and half untied the straw rope to reveal a hole.
He whispered to Xia Jiu: "Brother Jiu, don't say that I didn't take care of you. The casing of the New Year pig that was just killed a few days ago will be thin and crisp after being cooked. Six pounds, ten coppers."
Xia Jiu nodded with a smile, wrapped the broad leaves and put them in the basket.
Lan Feng stepped forward to hold the basket and said, "Uncle Jiu, let me carry it. The young man is very strong!"
Xia Jiu saw that Lan Feng was full of energy and did not refuse, so he unloaded the basket and handed it to him.
The butcher looked at Lan Feng and Hai Yesheng and said, "Brother Jiu, who are these two little brothers?"
Uncle Jiu said: "These two children came to seek refuge from outside the mountains. Seeing that they had no one to rely on, I let them stay at my house for the New Year."
When the butcher heard this, his face was filled with displeasure. He grabbed Xia Jiu's hand and stuffed ten copper coins back into Xia Jiu's hand.
The butcher said: "Brother Jiu, this is your fault. There are guests at home. Why should we give money when we go out to buy new year's goods?"
Just as Xia Jiu was about to speak, he heard the butcher shouting at the top of his lungs: "Hey! Folks, there is a visitor at Brother Jiu's house! Don't ask for money if you see it! New Year's Eve is approaching, let's celebrate it too!!"
"okay!!"
Applause came from all directions, and Xia Jiu also smiled helplessly. But Lan Feng and Hai Yesheng were stunned.
"Uncle Jiu, what's going on?" Lan Feng asked.
Xia Jiu patted Lanfeng's shoulder and said while walking forward: "This is the custom of our Wu clan. Whenever guests come to the house, we want them to feel the enthusiasm of our Wu clan people. Don't say it's a gift for you. You can get whatever you want, even if you want to eat at their house. It seems that this year, I will be able to take advantage of you, haha!"
Lan Feng and Hai Yesheng were also surprised after hearing this. They didn't expect that the human race in this world has such simple folk customs. But it was different from the scheming officials outside the mountain, which made Lan Feng fall in love with this place even more.
After a while, Lanfeng's basket was filled to the brim, with meat accounting for the majority. The rest were filled with colorful side dishes, including the fireworks and some sundries brought back by Jiao'er and Ruoxue.
Xia Jiu saw that the New Year celebrations were almost done, so he turned back with Lan Feng and others.
At this time, a group of people came from a distance. A pair of men and women walked in front, each holding a flower stick in their hands. Eight people behind them lifted a bamboo sedan chair. The sedan chair was covered by a whole piece of red silk. I could see a woman sitting inside.
Lan Feng and the others watched the sedan go away, and Ruoxue asked, "Uncle Jiu, these people don't look like Wu Clan people."
Xia Jiu smiled and said: "You can say yes or no. They are just like you, they fled from outside the mountains. It's just that they came five hundred years earlier than you."
"Five hundred years?!" Lan Feng was shocked.
Xia Jiu quickly explained: "No, no, I didn't mean that they lived for five hundred years, but that their ancestors came to the mountains five hundred years ago. When they came, they were a troupe. Our ancestors saw that they were pitiful and took them in." .
On weekdays, they make a living by singing opera in the north of the village. Every New Year, they come to the village to sing opera for the villagers.
In each generation, a woman will appear to sing opera. What is even more surprising is that the opera tunes of the women in each generation are uniformly good. It's a pity that no one has ever seen the faces of these women.
Moreover, these women have no names. They only have one unified name to the outside world, which is called Ending. "
"The end..." Lanfeng murmured...
Xia Jiu said: "Let's go home first. If you want to listen to her singing, we can come out and listen together when the New Year is over."
Lan Feng didn't have much interest in singing, but the timing of this troupe's appearance was coincidental.
Five hundred years ago... wasn't it the time of the journey to the west? Could it be that he thought wrongly? Maybe it was just a coincidence... Lan Feng shook his head and didn't think about it too much.
After returning home, the group of people packed up the New Year's goods. Lanfeng and the other two people didn't know what the Wu clan was going to do for the New Year, so they had to watch from the sidelines.
Xia Jiu and Mrs. Jiu soaked the purchased casings in hot water and thawed the pig meat in front of the stove.
At this time, Jiaoer also brought a rice jar from the kitchen and placed it in front of Xia Jiu and his wife.
Xia Jiu said while playing with the casings: "This is a must-have New Year's food for every family of the Wu clan during the Chinese New Year. Wrap the glutinous rice with pig red and stuff it into the casings. Then steam it in a basket, dip it in some chili pepper and put it in the casing. When you put it in your mouth, it smells delicious!
We also took the homophony of casings and pig red for this thing, and called it Changhong, which means that everything will go well and everything will be prosperous in the coming year. "
The wisdom of working people is often reflected in these subtleties. They can not only discover every available talent in life, but also combine some beautiful meanings. In this way, they will not be afraid of the hardships in life. This is called optimism.
Changhong was cooked one by one. Sister-in-law Jiu cut some and steamed them in a steamer, while others were hung on bamboo hooks under the eaves.
It was late at night, and Lan Feng and the other three were cutting red paper with Xia Jiu and his family under the dim light. The Wu tribe was the descendant of Chi You, and the shapes they cut were mostly related to ox horns.
While Lan Feng was cutting, he suddenly thought of Sister Maple Ling and Granny Buyan, so he casually cut out a pair of butterflies and a maple tree on the red paper.
Jiao'er saw that Lan Feng's haircut was different from theirs, so she asked, "Brother Lanfeng, what is your haircut? It's really beautiful."
Lanfeng pasted the red papers he had cut on the wall and said, "Jiao'er, brother, let me tell you a story about butterflies and maple trees."
Xia Jiu and his family listened to Lan Feng telling this story under the lamp. Of course, Lan Feng did not tell the true ending, but told them that two fire butterflies fell in love with Shui Ling, and they and Maple Tree guarded the people.
As for whether he was guarding the Witch Clan, Lan Feng did not say clearly. Legends are always passed down from generation to generation. Lan Feng believes that Fu Yan's mother-in-law's maple tree is the best proof of this story.
After Jiaoer finished listening, she shouted that she wanted to tell this story to everyone. As for the follow-up to this legend, that is another story.
Lan Feng finally hid a piece of red paper. After everyone fell asleep, he cut the red paper into a pair of butterflies, blew on it and said: "Go..."
The pair of paper butterflies flapped their wings and flew into the mountains in the cold wind...
