Zhu Xian: Learn from the Great Ying Immortal and rebuild the Trinity School

Chapter 30 Since ancient times
Girl Lu had a good dream.

In the dream, the disaster years are gone forever.

The harvest in Kaoshan Village was abundant, every household had full granaries, and every villager's face was filled with happy smiles.

Even the kids who used to laugh at and bully her no longer bully her.

Although my father is no longer with us, the position of the "third person" in the family has not disappeared.

Just replaced by another one.

My mother's health is getting better day by day, and she smiles more and more often.

The three of them were happy every day and lived together like this.

Perhaps, this is appropriate.

But after waking up from the dream, the heavy reality immediately shattered the fantasy.

The little girl couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.

She was also calculating the time. Today was a special day.

He put on his shoes and socks, got out of bed, washed up briefly, and left the east wing.

When she arrived at the west wing, she found the door closed. She hesitated for a few moments and then knocked on the door.

However, there was no response from inside the house.

no one?

The little girl frowned. Could it be...

At this time, Lu happened to walk into the hall and asked:
"What's wrong, Qi'er?"

She looked haggard, as if she didn't get enough rest last night.

"Mother." The little girl said in a weak voice, pointing behind the door, "Where... is he?"

"I left early this morning."

Lu's tone was flat, as if she was talking about a trivial matter.

But to the little girl's ears, it sounded like thunder.

Although she was mentally prepared, she found it hard to accept that she couldn't even see him for the last time.

There was a gloomy look on Lu's face, perhaps because she was worried because her attempt to entrust her child to someone else failed last night.

The little girl was silent for a few breaths after hearing this, and suddenly wanted to go out.

Seeing this, Lu asked:
"Are you going to chase him?"

"Ok!"

The little girl nodded slightly.

There was red in her eyes and a hint of grievance at the corner of her mouth.

"If he hasn't gone far, maybe I can catch up with him. It's been so long, and I haven't thanked him in person."

Lu smiled when he heard this.

"My daughter knows the difference between hot and cold, so I feel relieved."

The little girl was startled and stood there in confusion.

Lu came forward and put his hands on her shoulders.
"No need to chase after me. I want to tell you something..."

She held her daughter in her arms and whispered in her ear:

"Eat well from now on and don't be picky about food."

“When you are alone, think more about happy things and less about sad things.”

"Also, if you have an argument with someone in the future, try not to think about their bad behavior..."

"If someone bullies you, try to... try to take care of yourself."

The little girl stared with her dark eyes and glanced at her mother's profile in confusion.

"Mom, why...are you suddenly saying this?"

Lu secretly wiped the corners of her eyes and smiled:
"Nothing, mom has to go out for a while, you just stay at home obediently."

As he spoke, he pushed open the door of the hall.

The little girl then saw that there were dozens of villagers standing in her small yard.

The people in the front row were wearing eye-catching clothes and had large flowery facial masks.

Behind them were gongs and drums, as well as paper figures and paper horses.

This scene and this preparation looked like they were prepared to welcome someone.

The little girl was puzzled and watched quietly.

She saw Lu walk up to those people and talk to them in a low voice.

Then he turned around and took a deep look into the house.

The little girl opened her mouth and was about to say "mother",

The two doors slammed shut as if the night had suddenly fallen.

The house is so quiet.
It was so quiet that the only thing I could hear was my own breathing and heartbeat.

For some reason, the little girl's ignorant heart was gripped.

…………Lu was surrounded by a group of villagers and set foot on the ancient road out of the village.

Gongs, drums and suonas lead the way in front, with paper figures and paper horses following behind.

This incongruous ceremonial team, made up of those for weddings and funerals, was like a bloated and clumsy snake, winding its way towards the foot of Daling Mountain behind the village.

Lao Li had been kneeling in front of the mountain god statue all night, and his old legs had long been numb.

He tried to move his body several times and tried to stand up, but his legs and feet were too bloody to move and he had no strength to do so, so he had to give up.

"Hey!"

He couldn't help but smile bitterly.

When he was young, he was one of the best laborers in the village.

No one among his peers could compare to him in wrestling, eating, drinking, or tending to farm work.

But now he is over 70 years old and no longer has the ability he once had.

His bony body and youthful vigor could not withstand the ruthless erosion of time.

In the end, it rotted away along with the lacquered wooden coffin that had been in the house for five years.

He leaned on his crutches with both hands and looked up at the cloudless dry sky in a daze.

As the head of the village, he always worries more than others.

It is already summer, but due to the drought, the farming season has been delayed for two months.

Even if the mountain god appears, the seedlings in the field will sprout tomorrow.

But when the autumn harvest comes, the output will probably be much lower than in previous years, with a loss of at least 30% to 40%.

If we calculate it based on a 30% reduction, the rice production per person per year would be no more than 500 kilograms at most.

After threshing, it weighs less than 420 to 430 kilograms.

Of this, 25% must be reserved as rice seeds for next year.

After calculating in this way, the actual food ration left for each villager was only 300 kilograms.

If it is distributed to each person per day, it is less than seven taels.

Seven taels...

This amount is just enough for an old man like him to live on.

But how can the young and strong people and the children survive?
“Life is not easy…”

He sighed.

I'm afraid we can only hope that during this sacrifice, the mountain god will show mercy.

If there could be more rain and the yields in the fields could be boosted, perhaps the people living in the mountain villages could safely survive the disaster year.

…………

Behind me came the sound of loud gongs and drums, accompanied by the footsteps of a large number of people, coming closer and closer.

He knew what was going on and didn't panic.

"Mr. Lizheng, the people are here."

Two young men came forward to help him up.

"Need not."

The village head pushed the two men away and tried to stand up with the help of the crutch in his hand.

Looks tough,

In fact, the hands behind the back were secretly pounding the lower back which had already become numb.

He looked around the crowd with a sharp gaze for a while, and finally landed on Lu in the middle, and asked softly:

"Have you explained everything to the baby?"

Lu nodded slightly, with no expression on her face.

Lao Li was silent for a while, then turned his back to Lu, as if he didn't want to look into her eyes.

"Lu's wife, I know you feel bad, but you can't blame others. Now that it has come to this, I will tell you something."

"I know your husband's plan when he left home, and the mountain god knows it too. That's why he got his retribution and died outside."

Hearing this, Lu's eyes couldn't help but tremble, and her hands slowly clenched.

"The reason why the mountain god chose you for this sacrifice is also a punishment for your family."

As the old man was speaking, a hint of regret appeared on his face.

"Your man is a learned man and has made great contributions to the village. We are all grateful to him."

"But even so, he should never have had disrespectful thoughts towards the Mountain God."

"Since ancient times, the people in our village have relied on him for their livelihood."

He picked up a stick of incense on the bill and bowed to the statue.

Extremely respectful.

"Since ancient times..."

Lu lowered her head and chewed on these four words, and slowly, she felt as if her heart was being cut by a knife.

(End of this chapter)