Part-Time Taoist Priest

When Xie Lingya came back from the city hall, he saw that something was wrong with the atmosphere. Xiaoliang and Zhang Daoting didn't say a word, and their expressions were slightly nervous and embarrassed.Shi Changxuan at the side looked almost the same as usual at first glance, but after careful identification, he seemed even colder.

"...What's the matter?" Xie Lingya originally wanted to tell them to go, but now he couldn't help asking.

Zhang Daoting was also very confused, he just talked about Xie Lingya, he kept talking about why senior brother Xie hadn't come back, and suddenly found that Daoist Shi stopped talking, he was terribly cold.

Zhang Daoting felt that he had something to do with Senior Brother Xie, so he kept looking at Xie Lingya.

Xie Lingya was looked at a few more times, then he laughed a little and said: "Is it because I came back late? Shi Changxuan has an appointment with him, hey, I don't know how long I have been waiting in line, I apologize, my My fault."

But Shi Changxuan still didn't speak, now Zhang Daoting and Xiaoliang were even more embarrassed, Zhang Daoting still felt that something was wrong, even if he couldn't tell for a while, Xie Lingya was also a little uneasy.

After a while, Shi Changxuan finally said in a daze, "...it's not your fault, it's my mistake."

Shi Changxuan didn't know if they could hear it, but his own voice was very tense, and it took a lot of effort to speak the second half of the sentence.

That's right, how could this matter be Xie Lingya's fault, obviously he made a mistake.

"What's wrong? Is the time wrong? Are you going to leave now?" Xie Lingya asked.He found that Shi Changxuan seemed to be staring at him, and it was a very subtle look.

"...Let's go." Shi Changhang lowered his eyes and said two words lightly.He has no position to blame others, and he can't even reveal his feelings.

"Okay, I'll take a backpack." Xie Lingya said and entered the room.His and Shi Changxuan's room.

After making a mistake, can you still make things right?

Shang Lushen: "You really..."

Shi Changxuan: "Shut up."

Shang Lushen didn't dare to speak.

……

Xie Lingya felt that Shi Changxuan seemed to be in a bad mood, he didn't talk much at first, but now he was more serious.They took the bus, and Shi Changxuan sat in the same place after getting on the bus.

Xie Lingya originally thought it might be to take care of Xiaoliang and let the two of them sit together, but later he tried to talk to Shi Changxuan, Shi Changxuan also looked indifferent.Not long ago, Xie Lingya told Shi Changxuan that he smiled more now, why did he suddenly return to his original shape.

So suddenly, could it be that there is something wrong at home?Xie Lingya saw that he was resting with his eyes closed, unwilling to say more, so he had to let him be quiet for a while.

Shi Changxuan really didn't want to say more, and he didn't want to see Xie Lingya more, he was afraid that he would reveal his emotions.

The bus drove for more than three hours before arriving in the neighboring city, and then took a shuttle bus to the county seat, which is Subaru County.

In Pleiades County, there is a very strong tradition of "worshiping ancestors at Anjiatang". Jiatang is the house where the ancestors' gods are placed, and it can also refer to the ancestors' gods. Therefore, many people say "worshiping the family hall" is actually worshiping ancestors.

Subaru County is a village formed by many families living in groups, and there is also the Zongjiatang, which is the ancestral hall of the whole village.

Shi Changxuan contacted and visited a very old village, Fengping Village. Most of the villagers are surnamed Pang, which can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty. There are many old buildings in the village, and the ancestral hall still maintains the style of a hundred years ago. .

Shi Changxuan got in the car and contacted the village director. After getting off the car, a middle-aged man about 40 years old was waiting for them at the station. He came up and shook hands with Shi Changxuan, "Student Shi, hello."

"Director Pang." Shi Changxuan also greeted him. From the address of the two of them, Director Pang didn't seem to know that Shi Changxuan was still a Taoist priest.

"These two are your classmates." Director Pang heard Shi Changxuan said that there were two more people temporarily, and thought they were his classmates, and said, "Let's go, go home. By the way, because of ancestor worship, there are many people in the village Everyone is back, and the living quarters are relatively tight, and the three of you may have to squeeze together in the same room."

"Well, I'm sorry to trouble you." There is no hotel next to Fengtou Village, so the only way to stay is this.Fortunately, the three of them are not picky people.

Director Pang took them to his home. His house was also very old, and there were four mottled words on the lintel: Prosperity without destruction.

Xiaoliang raised his head, "Xie... Brother Xie, what idiom is this?"

He didn't dare to call the teacher anymore, and Director Pang would misunderstand him later.As I walked along the way just now, I also saw words on the lintels of some old houses, but they were all about farming and studying, quiet and far away.

Xie Lingya glanced at it, "This is an idiom, very old and difficult, but with your education background, you should be able to understand it."

Xiaoliang said with a guilty conscience: "I don't know much about ancient Chinese." The only disadvantage is that I don't have any education. I only went to high school. Now reading ancient classics is a lot of brains, I have to look them up.

Xie Lingya: "Stupid, nothing is propertyless nothing, capital is capital's capital!"

A small amount: "..."

Director Pang laughed loudly, "I didn't realize it for a while. This word was changed by my grandfather decades ago."

Scratching his head a little, he said embarrassedly: "Yes..."

Xie Lingya peeked at it, but Shi Changxuan still didn't smile, he didn't know that Shi Changxuan would not be able to laugh anymore no matter how funny the joke was.

Director Pang's family has a son and a daughter. He got married early, and both children have gone to college. This time he was also called back to participate in the corpse ceremony.But when they arrived at Director Pang's house, his children had all gone out to play.

At Director Pang’s house, he sat down to explain the origin of corpse sacrifice in Subaru County to Shi Changxuan and the others, “In the past, this custom was suppressed, and you all know it. But this custom is still deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, so it soon revived Yes, besides, there is no superstition yet, this, this has also applied for intangible cultural heritage.

"In the entire Subaru County, there are more than a dozen teachers' classes, and they are the ones who preside over the Nuo Guitou. Not only do they worship ancestors, but they also come for activities such as worshiping gods and praying for blessings."

Shi Changxuan was at the side taking notes. He also brought a camera, and he will take pictures when the time comes.

Standing Corpse Sacrifice is an ancient name, and all the rituals that have been passed down can be called Standing Corpse Sacrifice, whichever it means.The local form in Subaru County is called Nuo Guitou, the core of which is to use witches as "corpse" for future generations to sacrifice.

"I have an uncle who can make funny faces, so I have been in contact with these people since I was a child, and I know the rules better." Director Pang lit a cigarette and recalled, "We have to divination in advance on our memorial day. In order to determine the time and scale of the holding, and the master classes I know are very traditional, they all use turtle shells for divination. Then, three days before the ancestor worship, these masters will fast and meditate at home.

"When we were young, there lived a teacher in our village. People often asked him to do things. Every time we passed by his door, we didn't dare to disturb him loudly. That teacher was really mysterious. Once he asked the next county to ask him to do something. Jue invited the ancestors of his family to enjoy the sacrifices. When the great-grandfather of the master’s family was invited, the teacher’s team said that for some reason, the old man never came.

"The teacher lit incense and asked the master, is there something wrong with your great-grandfather's leg? He is inconvenient, so he can't come unless he is invited by a carriage. Sure enough, the master's great-grandfather once broke his leg and left Disabled and died early, even the main family only heard about it from their grandfather when they were young. Then they changed their spells and sent a carriage to invite the old man."

In all fairness, Director Pang's eloquence is very good, and he has told this story so many times, it is vivid.When revealing the answer, the tone was extra suspenseful.

It's a pity that the response was not very satisfactory. Shi Changxuan took notes indifferently. Xie Lingya and Xiaoliang were expressionless at first, but after a while they came to their senses and said flatteringly: "This teacher is a person with real skills, it really is mysterious!"

Director Pang was a little depressed, but he quickly figured it out, "Hey, you only study this, you must have heard more mysterious things."

Everyone laughed and said nothing.

"By the way, do you want to watch the fasting?" Director Pang said, "I have already said hello to the teacher, and today I can go to the home of the class leader to take a picture. His home is in the next village, and it takes 10 minutes to drive there."

Director Pang drove them and took them to the home of the head teacher in the next village.

The class leader's wife received them and said, "He is reading a book. Go to the door and have a look."

Xie Lingya clasped Xiaoliang, and gestured to him for silence, Xiaoliang nodded.

Several people walked to the door of the study room. This house is also an old-fashioned building with a high roof and high windows. The inside of the room is not very bright, but it is much better after installing electric lights.

This place is called a study, rather it is a place where Shigong specially "practices". There are seven or eight wooden masks hanging on the wall. Shigong is sitting at the table, reading a yellowed book.Hearing that someone was coming, he raised his head and took a look, because Director Pang had greeted him in advance, so he was not surprised, just nodded, and then continued to read his book.

Shi Changxuan only nodded, and then quietly took a few photos. Director Pang had already explained to them the precautions during fasting in the car just now, so there was no need to ask Shigong himself.

Xie Lingya's eyes lingered on those wooden masks for a while. These wooden ghost heads were painted with facial features, skin and hair, and the corners of their mouths were slightly raised, symbolizing the benevolent ancestors.

There are also some more majestic expressions, probably ghost heads representing gods.

Probably because of the aesthetic style, no matter which one, the blush on the cheeks is particularly heavy, and it is covered with a layer of varnish, which looks like the face is shiny and shiny.

After Shi Changxuan finished taking photos, they left the room and said in a small way: "If I look at the mask alone, I think it looks like an opera, but in that house, it feels very mysterious."

"Psychological effect." Xie Lingya said, the master can invite the gods, but the mask is not always attached to the soul.

……

Back at Director Pang’s house in Fengping Village, Xie Lingya found that there were three young people in the house, two men and a woman, one of whom looked a lot like Director Pang, and they should be his children. Another young man was holding a selfie stick , there is a mobile phone on it, and it is circling in the yard.

When Director Pang saw it, he called out, "Erhei, what circle are you doing? It's like a dog biting its tail."

"Uncle Qi!" The young man almost jumped up, "Don't call me Erhei!"

Director Pang was overjoyed, "Why, people in the city want to save face, and Erhei won't let you call. Isn't your grandma giving it to you?"

Director Pang's son said, "Dad, two...Brother Jie is broadcasting live!"

"Really?" Director Pang leaned over and looked at the screen of Pang Jie's mobile phone. The rows of small characters on the top almost filled the screen, "Hey, it seems that your screen is asking you to take pictures of them. "

He looked back at Shi Changxuan and his party. That's right, the screen said to let the camera point at them.

Pang Jie: "..."

"Today's live broadcast will end here first, and tomorrow I will broadcast the rural feudal superstition activities for everyone." Pang Jie said, and simply closed the live broadcast room.

When Director Pang heard this, he immediately stared at him, "What did you just say?"

"Isn't there going to be a ceremony at the main family hall tomorrow? I'm going to broadcast it live." Pang Jie said carelessly, "Netizens seem to be quite interested in this kind of superstitious activity."

Director Pang said displeasedly: "Nonsense, worshiping ancestors is a big deal."

"Then how can they film it? I've heard that they also came to film Nuo Guitou." Pang Jie looked at Shi Changxuan and the others, "My surname is Pang."

"He is doing academic research, and he has already greeted his master and divination." Director Pang had always been very gentle before, but now he was very strong, "Anyway, it is not allowed. If you have an opinion, ask your father to come and see I."

"Tsk, forget it, I'll go back first." Pang Jie said, and wandered out.

Director Pang looked again, feeling very helpless, and said to the three of them: "His grandfather and my father are cousins. He moved to the city when he was a child, and he only came back during the New Year's Eve. The young people in our village treat their families the same way. Very respectful."

He had just introduced to Shi Changxuan before that the family attached great importance to ancestor worship activities, and would come back from other places on purpose, and here came a negative example.

Shi Changxuan nodded.In fact, there is nothing to explain. In this era, the prevalence of customs like Subaru County is rare.Most Chinese people no longer pay homage at home, and there are even fewer and fewer tomb-sweeping during the Qingming Festival. Many people may go once every few years.

Then they wandered around the village again, chatting with some old people.

The family hall opened the next day, and the three of them ate at Director Pang's house in the evening. There was no entertainment, and they went to bed early. Director Pang's house cleaned up a room for them.There was only one bed in the room, but it was a big old-fashioned wooden bed, enough for three people to sleep together.

A small amount sleeps on the innermost side, Xie Lingya sleeps in the middle, Shi Changxuan sleeps on the outer side.

"Good night." Xie Lingya turned around and said.

Shi Changxuan stood up and turned off the light, then fell asleep in this position with his back to Xie Lingya.

Xie Lingya: "??"

After sleeping together for so long, it was the first time that Shi Changxuan slept with his back facing him.Not to mention, Xie Lingya has developed so many new habits, not including back-to-back with Shi Changxuan, the back of Shi Changxuan's head is too unfamiliar to him.

But when Xie Lingya thought about it, it's not easy to let Shi Changxuan turn around, it's too weird.Thus, Xie Lingya fell asleep with a trace of wonder.

On the contrary, Shi Changxuan, who had his back to Xie Lingya, couldn't sleep almost all night. He had been avoiding Xie Lingya's sight intentionally or unintentionally during the day, but he avoided his sight, and the image in his heart was still so clear.

He clearly knew that what was wrong should be corrected.If Shi Changxuan's self-control is not strong, he will not be able to practice Taoism to this extent, but...

The next day, Xie Lingya got up early in the morning, seeing that Shi Changxuan was still sleeping, he thought to himself that this is rare, I got up earlier than Shi Changxuan today.Hey, why is there a bit of blue under Shi Changxuan's eyes?

Xie Lingya quietly touched Shang Lushen, and asked, "Little cutie, what's wrong with your master?"

Shi Changxuan told Shang Lushen to shut up yesterday, Shang Lushen was cowarded, and regretted it after cowarding, when Xie Lingya asked, it said shyly and gloatingly: "The car overturned."

Overturned?Xie Lingya understood immediately, wow, did the Taoism fail, and he couldn't accept it mentally.Shi Changxuan had a lot of self-esteem when he saw it. When he was a child, he might have been the kind of person who wrote a wrong question and practiced a hundred questions.

No wonder, no wonder he was in such a bad mood, and he didn't want to see Xie Lingya - even if he failed, he especially didn't want to see the sponge spirit.

Xie Lingya sighed: "If he wants to drive, anyone will overturn, and I will overturn."

Shang Lushen: "Hee hee."

It was a series of coincidences and uncontrollable emotions, and they collided with each other and had a series of car accidents. Shi Changxuan was paralyzed from the fall. Those who heard it were really sad and those who heard it cried.

Xie Lingya heard its weird laughter: "??"

Later when Shi Changxuan woke up, Xie Lingya thanked him for taking good care of him and even peeled an apple for him.

Shi Changxuan held the apple in a daze, and just had another thought in his mind, and saw Xie Lingya picked up a grapefruit and handed it to Xiaoliang, "Come on, the weather is dry, eat more fruits."

Shi Changxuan: "..."

……

When it was time for the sacrificial offering, Shi Changxuan and his entourage followed Director Pang to the main family hall. At this time, many people had already gathered, and the people from the teacher's class had arrived early and were preparing inside the house. This is not allowed to shoot.

The ancestral hall has been set up, and fresh and clean offerings are placed on the table.

There are about seven or eight people in a teacher class. After the ceremony begins, each has work, some sing, and some wear masks.

There are specific objects to invite ancestors to the body of the "corpse". There are three pairs of ancestors in total, the ancestors, the great ancestors and the great ancestors.

The two masters wore masks of a man and a woman, and also wore special ancient robes, sitting on two high stools.

Xie Lingya whispered, "Why is it so tall?"

"Since the pre-Qin period, the 'corpse' in the sacrifices has been 'superior'." Shi Changxuan said without looking back, and they stood aside to take pictures.

The people in Fengping Village obeyed the master's arrangement and worshiped below. The two masters who acted as ancestors invited the ancestors and would talk to their descendants.

After the ancestors is the ancestors, and if the two sit on it, the mask is another pair.

After the worship, the ancestors had to enjoy the offerings, put them in front of them, and told them to have a big meal.The other villagers watched from below, and when the ancestors finished eating, they could share some of the rest.

Xie Lingya inadvertently glanced at the people next to him, and saw Pang Jie whom he met yesterday. He also came to the scene. He didn't bring a selfie stick, but he wore one around his neck, and it was connected to a mobile phone case, which contained his mobile phone. .

Xie Lingya frowned slightly. Generally speaking, only when going out to play would he deliberately hang up the phone case so as not to lose the phone. It always looks weird to hang it like this every day.

The main reason is that Director Pang said yesterday that Pang Jie was not allowed to broadcast live, so Xie Lingya became suspicious.

Pang Jie didn't pay attention to Xie Lingya's eyes either. He stood in the first two rows and poked his head to watch the ceremony ahead.

The "Great Grandmother" of the host family picked up a plate of chicken and sniffed it under her nose, as if she was very salivating.The people below also laughed, but the laughter was very kind. Many masters would deliberately say something funny, so that it would make the atmosphere of the family more.

"Great-grandmother" tore off the chicken leg with one hand, put it under the mask and ate it.

A few people said "Hey" in their hearts, "Grandmother" was very gentle in the past, how did she get started this year? Is it because of a new teacher, or is it because "Grandmother" is not doing well underneath?

And the great-grandfather was also exaggerated, and a whole piece was stuffed into the mouth under the mask.

Don't talk about them, the other teachers in the next class also looked surprised, but they were confused and didn't say anything for a while.

Xie Lingya and the others thought that the customs here were just like this, and even muttered that eating was so primitive.

At this moment, "Grandmother Gao" stopped suddenly, and waved to her subordinates, "Pang Jie, come here."

Pang Jie was dumbfounded, "Call me?"

"Great-grandmother" nodded, "Come here quickly."

Is this one of the rituals?

But this is all presided over by the master. Could it be that Pang Jie's family stuffed extra money and asked his ancestors to bless him?

Pang Jie wanted to ask his father, but he couldn't find anyone. He hadn't come back from the bathroom yet, so he walked forward in a daze, and fiddled with the mobile phone hanging on his chest. "Grandmother Gao" took a bite out of the meat, and then turned the meat over, only to see several pieces of melon seed shells on the plate.

"Grandmother Gao" swung her arms and slapped Pang Jie's face, "You unfilial son, you actually spit melon seeds into the sacrifice!"

Everyone was in an uproar, and death was like life. At this time, the master is equivalent to a real ancestor, and the sacrifices given to them must be fresh and clean. This Pang Jie, dare to spit melon seeds in it?

Pang Jie's mother was not from Fengping Village. She screamed and ran over and said, "What are you doing? My little Jie didn't even touch him. How could he spit out melon seeds, and it's not your turn to beat him!"

"Pang Jie's mother, that's not what you said, worshiping the family hall is a big deal! How can you disrespect your ancestors!"

There are also people who object, and even think that if you play well, what's the matter with spitting melon seeds.

"Nonsense, is it just to get someone to beat your family?" Pang Jie's mother cursed back, grabbed "great-grandmother" by the collar, and dragged him off the high stool.

"Grandmother Gao" lowered her head and said, "He didn't vomit today, he vomited secretly in the early morning, and he slipped in."

Pang Jie looked at him in astonishment. He did sneak in and took a photo. He was cracking melon seeds at the time, and he didn't notice that a few pieces fell on the plate, but he clearly remembered that there was no one there.

It's all right to know that he vomited, but also know what time it is, and where exactly was this person watching at that time.

There are people down there trying to smooth things over, playing well is one thing, but it is true that the master is invited to worship the ancestors, and the ancestors are worshiped in the hope that the ancestors will bless their children and grandchildren well, how could they want to see such a scene.

From this point of view, Shigong shouldn't hit people, and the language education is not bad. Maybe he was too angry after eating melon seeds, so he had to make some muddy mud.

"Forget it, it's enough for the teacher to teach you a little bit, let's continue eating and change the dishes."

"Why let it go like this?" "Grandmother Gao" whispered, slowly raising her head.

Pang Jie only saw the ghost mask facing him. Because of the posture and angle, he was the only one who could see it clearly:

Originally the corners of the mouth were slightly raised, and the expression on his face was a kind mask, but now his mouth was wide open, smiling cheerfully, but also very rigid because of the invariability, his dark eyes exuded a strange look, the varnish on his face was shiny and watery, and the two The group's originally festive blush also added a touch of weirdness...

Pang Jie's howl resounded in the room for a moment: "Ahhh—"

At the same time, his mobile phone screen is also full of barrage:

"Ah, ah, it's so scary!"

"Fuck, this mask didn't have this expression just now—"

"I fucking freaked out!"

"Damn the anchor must have arranged a hype, juggling, but it scared me to death!"

The next moment, the screen "clicked" and shattered.