Zheng Qing suppressed his smile and walked silently into the alley with his thoughts on his mind.
Although today is the Lantern Festival, time in this alley seems to have frozen. No matter when he comes here, it always exudes that gloomy and silent temperament, with the high blue-grey walls standing on both sides.
, like a solid cage, creating a strong sense of oppression, making people walk more quietly with every step.
In this environment, even the leaves growing on the vines on the wall seem to be a bit darker than the colors outside.
It wasn't until Zheng Qing walked to the Institute of Abnormal Life that he felt that the oppressive atmosphere around him relaxed a little. The lanterns hanging on both sides of the door cast a small overlapping oval light spot. In the center of the light spot was a low-voltage
There was a long, low table on which were placed wine, celery, dates, chestnuts, vegetable soup and various other sacrifices.
It is also a dish-releasing ceremony.
However, compared with the ceremony at the Qingqiu Mansion, the display here at the institute seemed much shabby. Except for the wine and dishes, which were of a slightly inferior quality, there were no ceremonials such as conches, dharma drums, golden bells, and jade pans on the left and right.
device.
As for why his family's sacrificial table is placed outdoors, Zheng Qing guessed that it may be related to Dr. Duzem's non-Chinese origin. It may also be simply because his yard is small and he cannot set up a sacrificial table. Or maybe the doctor is informal and wants to take advantage of this.
A table, by the way, to worship the two door gods on the door - because Zheng Qing noticed that there was a small incense burner placed next to the sacrificial table. At this time, the incense in the burner was not exhausted, and there were three wisps of slender white smoke coming from the hole on the burner.
The eyes rose up and disappeared between the talisman boards on the door.
Although Shen Tu and Yu Lei were still holding their weapons and acting conscientiously, looking at their blurred eyes, one could tell that they were indulging in the incense and could not extricate themselves.
On the other hand, the white-haired tiger was jumping up and down on the left and right door panels in high spirits, holding a small orange lantern painted by someone unknown.
"Hey! That little thief!"
As soon as he saw Zheng Qing's figure, the white-haired tiger was suddenly overjoyed. He threw the small orange lantern to the side with his paws, lowered his body and swung his tail. His two huge golden eyes shone in the night, full of momentum.
:
"Who is coming? Tell me your name!"
"Zheng Qing, I made an appointment with Dr. Duzem to visit tonight." The boy answered honestly.
"Do you have a greeting card?" the white-haired tiger asked with a sideways glance.
Zheng Qing was stunned for a moment: "Do you still want to greet me? Didn't you just knock on the door before? Don't you recognize me? I talked to you last night!"
As he spoke, he unconsciously glanced at the bell on the blue-black door.
"Hey, where did this idiot come from?"
The white-haired tiger sneered again and again, and swung his tail happily behind him: "How can my doctor be seen by all cats and dogs? There is no invitation, so don't disturb me at the door. Be careful. I reported to the boss, holding the three-pronged sword and holding the iron chain handle.
Lock it up!"
Zheng Qing scratched his head.
It’s not that the white-haired tigers are just blathering. As door gods, they do have close relations with the alliance’s law enforcement agencies and can proactively request assistance from agencies such as the Trident Sword.
But someone like him who often visits Dr. Duzem would not be treated like this.
The young wizard was very suspicious that it was because he and the witch "remembered something funny" at the door last night had offended the white-haired tiger, so he was making things difficult for him at the door.
The trouble is that the door gods do have the power to 'close the door'. If the white-haired tiger really blocked the door, isolating the inside and outside, Zheng Qing would not be able to break other people's doors and force his way in.
In times of trouble.
The heavy blue-black door in front of me slowly opened, revealing an old face.
It was Duzem's servant, old man Constantine.
"Good evening, Master Zheng Qing." The old man saluted the young wizard properly, opened the door, and blocked himself in front of the white-haired tiger. He said respectfully: "My young master already knows that you are coming, and is waiting in the study...
...Don’t be like this kitten, it ate too much incense tonight and is a little restless.”
"It's okay, it's okay." Zheng Qing smiled and waved his hands repeatedly, but when he passed by the white-haired tiger, he still couldn't help but make a face at it.
The old servant was looking at his eyes, nose and heart, as if he was unconscious.
The white-haired tiger, on the other hand, was so angry that he grabbed the small orange lantern and shook it around to vent his restless anger. The swaying lantern was scattered and almost extinguished.
Similar to yesterday, Dr. Duzem is still busy working on his drawings at his desk today.
But unlike yesterday, today's study seemed a little more crowded. Zheng Qing noticed that there was a large chair next to the desk. In addition to the large glass jar containing the sunflower vase, there was also a vase tied with celery on the chair.
of apple juice.
Zheng Qing was very familiar with the glass jar containing sunflowers.
Because he chose this glass jar, and the sunflower inside was the one occupied by three sleeping elves in the dormitory. At this moment, they were still sleeping soundly on the flower plate in full bloom, as if they had no idea they were in a foreign land.
As for this glass jar, when Fatty Xin came to the pedestrian street in the afternoon to collect information, Zheng Qing asked him to help bring it in advance. This would give the doctor more time for inspection.
And the apple juice tied with celery seems a bit strange.
"That was the dish gift given to me by classmate Lin Guo." After Dr. Duzem finished the work at hand, he raised his head, noticed the wizard's gaze, and explained briefly.
Zheng Qing suddenly realized.
The dish-releasing ceremony of the Yuan Dynasty is an ancient ritual, but it also has different uses. Zheng Qing's vegetable-releasing ceremony at Qingqiu Mansion is a ritual to eliminate disasters. Its main function is to clear away the unknown and pray for blessings. There is another vegetable-releasing ceremony,
It is used when meeting teachers and offering sacrifices to ancestors to show respect and respect.
However, in Zheng Qing's impression, Lin Guo had lived alone at a young age. In theory, he should not know much about such complicated and trivial etiquette, but he didn't know where he learned this knowledge.
But then I thought about it again, and felt a little relieved - Lin Guo grew up in the best university in the wizarding world, and his neighbors and school elders took care of him from time to time. How could he not learn knowledge?
While these thoughts flashed through his mind, he did not forget to take out the gift he had prepared and handed it over respectfully.
Dr. Duzem held the apple juice given by Zheng Qing and raised his eyebrows slightly.
"Although apple cider is the most cost-effective, safest and appropriate gift for students, you are obviously not one of them." He half-jokingly reached out and drew a circle around: "Your bottle of apple cider is enough to buy it.
This is an old building...of course, it does not include the knowledge in the house."
"Of course, of course, after all, knowledge is priceless." The guest nodded solemnly, but felt a little confused. Although he knew that the bottle of apple juice was of high quality, he did not expect that the price would be so high.
This old building, just looking at the layout, would cost dozens of jade coins!
No wonder the head maid Su Man looked unhappy when he took it away.