After joining Hades

In the end, Wen Bai exchanged four small antiques for two fist-sized cakes.

He gave one to Chenghuang, and took a small ball from his own rich cake, and gave it to Xiaoliandeng.

Before buying it, Wen Bai was still a little worried, two Feng cakes disappeared out of thin air for no reason, the stall owner really wouldn't notice?

But Chenghuang told him with practical actions, no.

I saw that Chenghuang stuffed the two copper coins very skillfully, and even when he stuffed the copper coins, he didn't even take his eyes off the booth.

It seems that there are many such things done.

The stall owner is holding a cattail fan, chatting with the stall owner next door, and occasionally fanning the pastry fan on the stall to drive away mosquitoes and flies that do not exist.

After Chenghuang finished picking out the cakes, he stuffed two copper coins into Wen Bai's hands, and led him to the stall with an expression of "try it yourself after you learn it".

So Wen Bai accomplished the feat of "stealing" something under the nose of others for the first time in his life.

And a little fun.

Fortunately, listening to this Ye Yin can not only restrain his own breath, but also hide the things in his hands, so he doesn't have to worry about scaring others.

The pastries made of new rice, although wrapped in reed leaves, have been blown by the wind for a while at the stall, and they are already a bit cold.

It's not too soft, not too waxy, and even the fruit filling inside is a little sour.

But Wen Bai felt very fresh.

He looked at Lu Zheng: "It's delicious, don't you really want to try it?"

Lu Zheng responded with a lack of interest.

Wrapped in Ruo leaves, Wen Bai broke Feng Cake in half, lowered his eyes, and called out softly: "Lu Zheng."

Lu Zheng lowered his head.

Immediately afterwards, half a piece of Feng cake was stuffed into his mouth.

Lu Zheng: "..."

Wen Bai smiled with crooked eyebrows: "It's really delicious, try it."

Xiao Lian Deng didn't know when she had already rolled that piece of cake into a small glutinous rice ball, holding it with Ye Tuo, sitting on Wen Bai's shoulder, giggling at Lu Zheng.

"It's all here, don't be so out of gregarious," Wen Bai said with a smile, "Look, everyone has it."

"I only ate this half, you haven't touched the other half, it's very clean." Afraid that Lu Zheng would be disgusted, Wen Bai immediately assured him.

After a few seconds.

Lu Zheng felt the strong sour taste in the stuffing: "..."

After biting off the mouthful, Lu Zheng took off Feng Gao, imitating how Wen Bai called him just now, and softly called out: "Wen Bai."

But Lu Zheng is different from Wen Bai.

Even if Wen Bai lowered his voice, he was warm and moist, but when Lu Zheng lowered his voice, he seemed a little heavy, even a little dangerous.

The Wenbai police line was pulled up instantly.

Although he felt that the boss would not be able to retaliate by stuffing back the pastry, or the pastry that he had already taken a bite of, but Wen Bai subconsciously pursed his lips.

After all, that's what he did just now.

Lu Zheng smiled in his heart, but didn't show it on his face.

He looked at the half dumpling in Wen Bai's hand, which obviously had no filling, and then at the one in his own hand, which was full of fruit filling and had a strong sour taste.

"You really think it's delicious, and you want me to taste it," Lu Zheng paused, eyes slightly closed, "I still think it's too sour, you can't eat it."

So I gave him more than half of it.

Wen Bai felt guilty: "Is it sour?"

Lu Zheng smiled lightly: "What did you say?"

Cheng Huang couldn't help laughing at the side: "My lord and young master have such a good relationship."

"This kind of festive cake, on our side, has to be eaten by very close people."

Both Lu Zheng and Wen Bai paused.

Wen Bai touched his nose, feeling even more guilty.

Others want to share food only when they are very close.

But he just wanted to sour the boss.

He is guilty.

"If it's too sour, don't eat it. I seem to have seen a stall selling candied fruit before. I'll buy some later to clear my mouth." Wen Bai strongly appealed to himself.

Lu Zheng didn't listen much, he just glanced at the few Feng Cake left in Wen Bai's hand: "Eat it."

Xiao Lian Deng was also holding the glutinous rice balls that were getting smaller and smaller, and said milkyly: "Yes, don't waste it."

After finishing speaking, he buried his head in eating, which seemed extremely strenuous.

It's not unusual for Wen Bai to be able to finish eating the little lotus lantern, because he was afraid that it would hold on, so he pinched a small ball and gave it to it.

But Lu Zheng also finished eating, which Wen Bai didn't expect.

It was the first time he knew that the boss might like sour food.

But this rich cake has a lot of stamina. The fruit filling inside is probably not added with anything else. When the real fruit is mashed, the sour taste lasts for a long time.

Fortunately, within a few steps, there was a candied fruit stand. On the recommendation of Chenghuang, I picked some sweet preserved fruits to suppress the sour taste.

What made Wen Bai curious was that next to the candied fruit stall was a "paper horse stall".

Paper Horse Stall, that is, a pave that sells paper bundles of ghost objects.

"Can these paving shops also be placed directly on the street?" Wen Bai's impression of the paper making shop is almost all in some alleys.

Even Grandpa Zhou Wei, the coffin shop run by the local city god, opened at the end of the street.

Although there are some limiting factors in it, such as shops, rent, etc., but there are also some thoughts of avoiding people.

It was really hard for him to imagine what it would be like if a paper bundle was placed directly on the stall in the real world.

And the people who come and go on this street seem to be unafraid, they are still picking up the pastries celebrating the harvest with their front feet, and they have already stopped on the paper bunk in the next second.

"Yes, if you walk down one street, you can see a dozen or so houses."

As Chenghuang said, he walked up to the booth and picked up a willow umbrella fan at the corner while no one was paying attention: "Don't underestimate these paper makers, they are very good at crafting, what about tying, pasting, sculpting, and painting?" You have to know it all, the body sculpting in my temple was also made by them."

"These on the stall are still some small ornaments, shoes and boots, five-color silk and so on."

Chenghuang put down the willow umbrella fan and walked over slowly: "If you want to see more coincidences, you have to go to the shop. They are as big as some dharma boats and yin houses, as small as some soul banners, cattle and horses. Only you can't think of them, and you can't do them without them." from."

It was also the first time for Wen Bai to hear this.

But I also know the role of these paper-making craftsmen.

After all, he also learned how to stack ingots from Yincha.

After Chenghuang came to him, he continued: "There is actually no difference between the Shangyuan Festival and the Zhongyuan Festival."

"Although one entertains people and the other entertains ghosts, in the final analysis, it is all about protecting people's livelihood and seeking peace."

"It's the same principle that people worship ancestors and heaven, so on this day, there is no need to shy away from anything."

Wen Bai nodded slowly, then glanced at Xiao Lian Deng again.

It is only now that he understands why Xiao Lian Deng asked him that question when he was on the street before - "Why are everyone not very happy?"

Because in its memory, Zhongyuan is as it is now.

Probably it should be.

What is protected is people's livelihood, what is sought is peace, life and death are as usual, there is no need to shy away from anything.

"Ahead is a stall selling Yulan basins and river lanterns. If you are interested, you can go and have a look." Chenghuang said, pointing to the front.

"In a short time, it will be the time of burning the Dharma boat and offering sacrifices to the orphans. It will be very lively. If you go earlier, you can pick a good place."

Xiaoliandeng couldn't sit still when he heard the river lantern, and immediately yelled twice: "Let the river lantern go! Let the river lantern go!"

Wen Bai raised his head and asked for the boss's opinion: "Shall we go?"

Lu Zheng said softly, "Go if you want."

With Lu Zheng's approval, Wen Bai smiled, and walked forward holding the little lotus lamp.

Speaking of the Dharma boat, Wen Bai thought of another thing: "Is this sacrificial orphan hosted by the government?"

When he was doing homework for the Ghost Festival before, he saw it in a book.

Sacrificing orphans and sacrificing strength is one of the largest activities of the Hungry Ghost Festival. Most of them are presided over by the government. Buddhism and Taoism set up special yoga altars and dojos in order to sacrifice to those ghosts who died unexpectedly. etc. are included, especially the soldiers who died in the war.

It is mostly for this reason that it is hosted by the government.

Every time the dynasties change, there will be countless dead souls, especially the soldiers who guard the frontier. Most of them died in the prime of life and did not have a family.

And Zhongyuan is a celebration day for descendants to worship their ancestors. For these "ghosts" who have no incense for their descendants, having no one to sacrifice means that they will be hungry and cold, and their hostility will not disappear, and they may wander around the world to cause trouble.

Therefore, the custom of sacrificing lonely souls and ghosts has been preserved since its inception.

The City God nodded: "Every year, the government presides over it, and officers and soldiers lead the way, and the best seat master is invited to ring the bell and burn incense to save the souls of the dead."

"Actually, apart from the official ceremonies, when the common people offer sacrifices to their ancestors, they will also make a separate pile." As he spoke, the City God reached out and pointed at an alley entrance, "Look over there."

"The Yulan basin on the left is for worshiping ancestors, and the one on the right is for giving alms to the dead."

Wen Bai took a closer look and asked, "Where is the surrounding area?"

"Lime, usually the common people will use lime to create a circle to indicate the restricted area."

"When offering sacrifices to the ancestors, by the way, some bundles, dark clothes, shoes and boots are also briefly burnt in it, in order to tell those dead souls that if they need it, they can take it from this pile, and don't rob them of what they gave to the ancestors. .”

The City God also talked about returning to Sigu: "In their view, most of the people who give charity are lonely souls on the streets. At most, they grab some food, cold clothes and so on. If they don't hurt people, the ghosts are different."

"So the matter of offering sacrifices has to be handled by the government. Some orthodox masters are invited to preside over the ceremony. At the same time, they will also recite some universal heart sutras in order to hope for a good harvest in the coming year."

"Then will there be rituals for orphans in the Town God's Temple?" Wen Bai asked by the way, remembering that Zhou Wei was dragged by his grandfather to help orphans.

The City God smiled: "Yes, it happened a long time ago. When no one worshiped the Gu, the City God would do some ceremonies, but now it is very rare."

Wen Bai sighed quietly in his heart: There will be some in a long time.

Lu Zheng knew what Wen Bai was thinking, and said, "There's no need to compare with the world a thousand years from now."

"The heyday and decline of incense are common occurrences. What the City God has to do is to protect people's livelihood. Living and working in peace is the foundation."

Lu Zheng rarely said these words, Wen Bai looked up at him.

After a moment of silence, he smiled lightly.

Lu Zheng: "What are you laughing at?"

Wen Bai still smiled: "It's nothing, I just think the boss is right."

Indeed, although the incense in the world is declining now, and the Town God's Temple is far from the style it was a thousand years ago, the foundation lies in living and working in peace and contentment.

It's just that Wen Bai was suddenly curious, and slowed down, walking behind with Lu Zheng.

Looking at the small lotus lamp sitting on the city god's head in front of him, studying his wooden hairpin, he said softly: "Boss, do you think this place is better, or the world after a thousand years?"

Lu Zheng glanced at him: "Why do you ask that?"

Wen Bai turned sideways slightly: "I'm just curious."

When they said this, the two happened to be standing in front of a wine shop.

Lu Zheng turned his head and looked at Wen Bai.

From his point of view, this person is standing under a lantern with red candles burning, the candles are flickering, the lights are luxuriant, and the shallow light moves with the wind, covering his body one after another, making the whole person's eyebrows and eyes look even brighter. exquisite.

Lu Zheng was dazed for a moment.

He recalled that a long time ago, Di Ting seemed to have asked him this question, but in a more general way.

His answer at the time was, it was all the same.

No matter how the dynasties change, the Yin Division is still the Yin Division, it is the same.

But now, he was suddenly speechless.

Because he suddenly realized that there was no Wen Bai in the world thousands of years ago.

Thinking about it this way, something seems to be missing.

Seeing that Lu Zheng didn't speak for a long time, Wen Bai called softly: "Boss?"

Have you thought about this question for so long?

Lu Zheng asked without answering, "What do you think?"

"Is it better here, or the world after a thousand years?"

Wen Bai answered quickly: "If I had to choose, I would definitely choose the millennium later."

Lu Zheng: "Why?"

Wen Bai chuckled: "Is there any reason?"

"My friends and relatives are not here."

Lu Zheng gave a faint "hmm".

Wen Bai was puzzled: "What does that mean?"

Lu Zheng didn't speak.

Wen Bai pondered for a while: "The boss also thinks that the world will be better after a thousand years?"

Lu Zheng still didn't speak.

After a long while, he condescendingly opened his mouth and uttered an extremely precious "hmm".

Wen Bai originally asked this question because he was curious for a while, so he thought about it, so he asked it.

Seeing that Lu Zheng hadn't come up with an accurate answer after thinking for so long, he thought he was going to say something about the vicissitudes of life, or he simply didn't answer.

Unexpectedly, he actually gave an answer, and felt that the human world would be better after a thousand years, so he became even more curious.

Wen Bai took a step closer: "Why?"

Lu Zheng finally answered: "..."

He suspected that this person did it on purpose.

Lu Zheng stopped slowly, looking at Wen Bai who stopped with him.

innocent face.

still laughing.

But facing this face, no matter how angry he is, he can't express it.

Lu Zheng gritted his teeth lightly: "Because I don't like the Feng Gao here, it's too sour, okay?"

Wen Bai was stunned for a while.

Waiting for the reaction to come back, I was afraid that I would laugh out loud in front of Lu Zheng, so I quickly lowered my head to cover up: "Yes."

How could Lu Zheng fail to see Wen Bai's expression, he sullenly warned: "Wen Bai."

Wen Bai endured a smile: "Yes."

Lu Zheng was so angry that he stretched out his hand to pinch the back of Wen Bai's neck, and pulled him over like a cat.

This time, again, what are you laughing at.

Wen Bai was still holding back his laughter, but when Lu Zheng touched him, his cool palm was pressed against the back of his neck, and he couldn't help it instantly.

No pain, a little itchy, and a little cold.

"Boss," Wen Bai laughed out loud after saying these two words, "Are you Yuan Yuan?"

I like the human world after a thousand years because I don't like the Feng Gao here, it's too sour, what kind of kindergarten speech is this.

Lu Zheng: "..."

Sooner or later he would be pissed off by this.

It was rare for Wen Bai to laugh so openly, and the little lotus lamp and Chenghuang in front also stopped when they heard the sound.

Xiao Lian Deng floated over all of a sudden, staring at Lu Zheng's hand on the back of Wen Bai's neck, and was about to blast his father with a little star, so that he would let go.

But before he turned on the power, his father had already let go.

Then the petals of my own destiny were pinched and I couldn't move.

Lu Zheng listened to Wen Xiaodeng moaning for a long time before sending it back to another Wen's arms.

Another person surnamed Wen: "..."

Lu Zheng had never dealt with the lotus lantern, even before they walked to the Yu Lan basin stall, the little lotan lantern had been revived with full blood within a few steps.

The first thing Wen Bai saw was the bamboo poles standing under the booth, tied into bundles with hemp rope.

Each bamboo pole is about an arm's length, and the stall owner is cutting bamboo branches with a short knife.

Wen Bai asked the City God: "Are these bamboo poles used to make Yulan basins?"

"Well," Chenghuang nodded, "this kind is small, and it's usually used for ancestor worship at home. Cut a bamboo pole into three legs, and then weave a lamphouse with other thin bamboo branches on top, and a Yulan basin is ready. gone."

"You can pay attention to the Yulan basin when you worship the orphan later."

"One is as tall as a person, and there are incense candles and red wax on it, which is very beautiful."

Wen Bai walked to the stall and squatted down.

After looking at it for a while, I suddenly found that there were a few pieces of yellow paper pasted on some of the ready-made Yulan basins.

There seems to be something painted on it.

Wen Bai pointed to one of the yellow papers and said, "What is this?"

"The portrait of Venerable Mulian." Chenghuang said.

The story of Mulian saving his mother has lasted for thousands of years, and it is still on the stage today. The Yulan Basin also came from this, and Wen Bai naturally knows it.

"What about these? Are they also Venerable Mulian?" Wen Bai pointed to a pile of Yulan basins nearby.

Why doesn't it look like it?

Cheng Huang took a closer look: "These are not, these are the gods of the underworld."

Wen Bai's eyes lit up: "Yin Division?"

He lowered his head and quickly scanned them one by one.

Seeing that he was watching seriously, Chenghuang leaned on his crutches and bent down: "What are you looking for, young master?"

Wen Baitou didn't raise his head: "Look for Lu Zheng."

City God: "..."

And Lu Zheng, who was standing behind Wen Bai, looking at the strangely shaped "Gods of the Underworld" on the yellow paper: "..."

The City God coughed: "You don't need to look for the young master, there are mostly Yashas, ​​Black and White Impermanence, or Ten Temple Yamas, and ordinary people generally don't know the names of adults."

Wen Bai paused, his tone extremely disappointed: "That's true."

Lu Zheng: "..."