Thirteen families took the lead in building a memorial ceremony and setting off flames to appease the hundreds of thousands of dead people inside and outside the city.
The temples in the sixty-fourth square invited the names of gods and Buddhas all over the sky, Taoist priests prayed, and monks chanted sutras, and they responded one after another. Even Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, Nestorianism and other barbarian religions also came to join in the fun.
As for the folk, it was even more lively. In every village, rich 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 ashes of paper are like falling snow, and the smoke of incense is like clouds steaming the city.
When the sun went down, every household came to the river mouths to put out river lanterns. In less than half an hour, millions of lanterns were lit on more than a dozen 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 hanging down 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. Living people should avoid their homes and guard their homes.
But with such a beautiful night, there are always men and women who are unwilling to sleep alone for a long night. They will wear masks or face coverings to prevent their identity from being discovered by ghosts and gods, and then invite friends to go out to enjoy the scenery.
As for the travelers, 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, no business is allowed to open tonight. The merchants are quick-witted and put everything on the boat. It is often seen that there are boats loaded with flowers, lotus lanterns or exquisite masks for sale 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, roasted 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 went out on a boat at night to hawk.
Because it is the Ghost Festival, the usual methods of collecting money for water bowls, dotting cinnabar, etc. to prevent wild ghosts from cheating food 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.
, even the unsold items were not taken back, but were thrown into the water, saying that they were feeding the poor.
Every time he saw this scene, Li Changan couldn't help but curse.
"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 for free, so Li Changan happily went over.
The scene they put on was much richer than that of the brown-clothed gang, which is a bunch of poor people. Li Changan was also rude, as if he was going to the countryside, and he was not even ashamed to eat and drink.
Wait until you have had enough wine and food, 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's 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. It was holding a lantern, large in size and small in size, 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 large bamboo baskets, swaying like a ghost in the road, "Where are Wuxiang going?"
"Entrusted by the neighbors, I am going to the river to help 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 with her. It just so happened that she had eaten enough incense tonight, the wind was no longer like a knife, and the fog was no longer like ice, so she was forgiven by the world for the time being. He might as well hang up all the "caughts"
He took the bamboo basket from his waist and went 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 on this earth.
Without waiting to reminisce, He Wumei continued to move forward along the river.
The tall grass ahead is dense and there is 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 are gone, only green grass growing up to the ankles, dotted with various wild flowers.
A fenced garden takes up most of the space in sight.
The flowers in the garden are extremely 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 stacked with cobblestones.
It was almost completely 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 sculptures and texts have been weathered by time and submerged by moss. Only the statues of gods are still intact.
It has a shape. Judging from its appearance, it looks vaguely like a dragon god, with a mythical beast that is either a cat or a dog crawling at its feet.
Could it be the infant-protecting Dragon King that few people worship anymore?
…
The big black cat has been guarding here for a long time.
As soon as He Wumei entered the cemetery, the cat flew towards her and jumped into her arms, meowing coquettishly.
Li Changan didn't join in the fun. This gangster was so fierce that he would scratch anyone who came next to 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 went ahead and dug out the earthen bags 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 are 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 have no tombstones because they have no 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 when 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. She, who was always calm and gentle, showed a sly expression.
"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 skinny. 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 are round and bright, so he is 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 candle 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 has returned, little A Dou. 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 it as my in vain."
Wu Niang would hide her face and chuckle lightly.
…………
Finished the work.
Li Changan only felt that the sacrificial incense, sacrificial wine, and sacrificial meat that had been eaten on the altar were burning together, making his chest feel hot. Just as the autumn breeze was blowing, 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 the pleasure of having a nice breeze for a long time.
It's rare tonight, so I simply opened my clothes, sat down on the spot, and let the evening breeze fill my 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. To avoid mistakes, 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'."
Only then did Li Changan realize 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.
The three identities of He Wumei from Salesian Hospital, He Jiajia from Xianyi Temple, and He Sunu today are very different from each other, but they can give a glimpse of the absurdity and impermanence of life.
Li Changan has no intention of uncovering other people's scars out of curiosity.
He didn't ask, but 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 seeking salvation from suffering will travel around the world in the ten directions with his attendants, saving all sentient beings, escaping from the sea of suffering, and guiding them to return to the right path and not fall into evil sects."
It's "The Taishang Miaojing of the Three Lives in Resolving Wrongful Deeds".
Her voice is soft, and her singing voice is unique, with an ethereal and ethereal feeling.
This tone is called "Buxu Sheng", which is used by Taoist priests to teach scriptures and praise.
The cheap master Liu Laodao doesn't know how to do it. He puts on a show in a small family and only makes people laugh. Li Changan doesn't know how to do it. 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, and the singing of the plain girls took the leading role. The wind hummed to accompany the singing, the gurgling water came 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 the autumn moon in the "buxu sound".
Um?!
Li Changan suddenly opened his eyes.
There was a strange sound in the "Chorus", as if it was 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 charm 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 the many ulcerated wounds turned white and turned into rotten flesh.
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 are not good-looking."
"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 whether 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 whispered "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 she heard.
"Eh?!"
As expected, I was frightened.
As soon as the Taoist priest thought this, he realized something was wrong, and his voice sounded more like surprise than fright!
He quickly looked back.
There are some hideous-looking dead babies 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 Wu Niang's head and used themselves as soft hats; some raised their heads.
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 the bell."
The meows came and went, and He Wumei couldn't get over it with her hands.
The Taoist priest felt itchy after seeing it, 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 began to fry their hair.
I don’t understand fairness and integrity at all!
Helplessly, I saw an extremely thin little guy who was squeezed out by the cats.
The Taoist priest cut two pieces of pork and lured 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 his claws from Lushan.
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 a few 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.
The rice balls and marinated meat were thrown down, and everyone rushed to grab the food.
Then continue to grit your teeth.
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 should 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:
"The fortunes of the morning and dusk shine brightly in the past and present. All kinds of talents are combined and formed. Wrong karma is mistakenly infected, 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.