Chapter 110: The Shivering Foster Mother
Chapter 110: The Shivering Foster Mother
Grandmother really came back?
Hu Ma looked around the table but saw nothing, just a patch of air blending into the night outside the door.
But the happiness and affection on Little Red Apricot’s face were genuine.
If it was really Grandmother who had come back, he would naturally be able to see her. If she had returned in another form, she should have made herself visible to him. This did make Hu Ma feel a bit puzzled, but he held back from asking. Second Uncle had told him that at such times, one shouldn’t ask such questions, as it would be disrespectful.
Just because he couldn’t see her didn’t mean Grandmother hadn’t come back. The other villagers couldn’t see their ancestors either, yet they still held their hearts with reverence.
So, Hu Ma put on a smile, went to the table, poured wine for Grandmother, and then started making dumplings.
The first three dumplings he served were for Grandmother, placed on the table. Then he gave Little Red Apricot a small bowl and himself a large one.
The family gathered in the dimly lit room, enjoying a reunion dinner.
For a moment, he truly felt as if he saw Grandmother sitting in the Grandmaster Chair, looking at him and Little Red Apricot with loving eyes, and his heart felt very at peace.
That night, every household kept their lights on. Each family had their ancestors staying with them.
People and ghosts cohabited, but the villagers slept very soundly that night.
Everyone fears ghosts, but who would fear the person who raised them?
...
"Grandmother, don’t worry about me. I’ve learned the skills of an Age Keeper, and although I haven’t mastered them all, I’m almost cured."
After bringing Grandmother home for the New Year, the next day Hu Ma sent her back to the Ancestral Hearth.
Just as when he brought her home, he burned three incense sticks to guide the way. Together with the other villagers sending off souls, he came to the Ancestral Hearth. Everyone inserted their incense sticks into the hearth and then took out their pouches, pouring the hearth ash inside and replacing it with new ash.
This was a return visit, a way to maintain ties with other villages.
When traveling in the Old Yin Mountain forest, hearth ash was essential.
However, while the villagers had many relatives in nearby villages, the Hu family had none.
After worshiping at the Ancestral Hearth, Hu Ma considered when he should return.
This was his first year in the Red Lantern Association, and although he had the chance to come home for the New Year, the situation was special, and he needed to return to work.
Especially since Miss White Wine’s Blood Food Pills were ready, and he was eager to return to share the spoils...
...No, to share the opportunities.
"Little Hu Ma, don’t rush. I have something to discuss with you and Second Uncle."
Just as Hu Ma was starting to pack, the Clan Chief and Second Uncle arrived.
The Old Clan Leader sat in the Grandmaster Chair as if it were his own home, stuffed his pipe with dried tobacco, and puffed away, saying, "With you boys out this year, our village has really gained some prestige. The villagers have been visiting each other, talking about your achievements, and the neighboring villages are envious."
"They say our hearth is emitting green smoke..."
"Five of you joined the Red Lantern Lady Association and stayed, and one even became a Young Steward! This is the first time in the Ten Li and Eight Villages!"
"The nephew of the village that produced the Steward has been bragging all over the place!"
"This is a good thing for our village, and we can’t ignore this favor."
"..."
The Old Clan Leader savored the moment, then tapped his pipe and said to Hu Ma, "So, Second Uncle and I have discussed it. Just worshiping the Ancestral Hearth isn’t enough this year. We want to burn incense and make offerings to the surrounding forest before you leave, to show our gratitude."
"After all, your success isn’t just due to our ancestors’ protection; the Old Yin Mountain has also been watching over you..."
"..."
"Worship the mountain?"
Hu Ma was startled. The Old Clan Leader was really daring...
In his past life’s memory, those who dared to worship the mountain were no simple figures; even emperors might not be able to withstand it.
Especially in this world, the mountains were incredibly sinister.
Even though he had made a name for himself in the village as a Young Steward of the Red Lantern Lady Association, he still didn’t have the qualifications to worship the mountain.
Even the Red Lantern Lady herself might not have the right...
"It’s not a grand ceremony."
The Old Clan Leader saw Hu Ma’s surprise and explained, "Just a small ceremony outside the village to pray for peace of mind."
"Don’t refuse. Second Uncle and I, along with the other village elders, have discussed it."
"Now, all the neighboring villages know that our Dayang Village is the most prosperous. When else would we have such a chance to burn incense?"
"Especially if we worship the forest, our Dayang Village will stand out."
"Even for Blood Food Offerings, they’ll choose from us first..."
"..."
"So, it’s not just about face, but also practical benefits. I see, he wouldn’t act on a whim..."
Hu Ma understood the Old Clan Leader’s meaning but still felt uneasy. He turned to look at Second Uncle.
With Grandmother not in the village, Second Uncle was his elder, and he was knowledgeable. Listening to him in difficult times would definitely be the right choice.
"This isn't just a mountain worship."
Elder Brother Sun saw Hu Ma glance over and put down his pipe, saying, "In our village, we have a tradition of mountain worship."
"In past years, when we had a good harvest and more Blood Food, and when there were more children in the village, we would perform the worship."
"However, in recent years, although the village has been relatively peaceful, it's been a mix of feast and famine, so the tradition has gradually faded."
"Moreover, what we call mountain worship is actually just a small-scale affair."
"Don’t you have a foster mother in the forest? We can offer her incense and offerings. Isn't it natural for a foster son to worship his foster mother?"
"Furthermore, when your grandmother was around, she had a kind heart and helped many people, so she had many acquaintances in the old forest. This meant that our village's herbalists were well taken care of when they entered the forest."
"When you left, you also bowed to them. Now that you're back, it's only right to offer some sacrifices and burn incense."
"..."
Listening to Elder Brother Sun, Hu Ma felt somewhat relieved.
Although Elder Brother Sun was a rough man, he understood the rules. If he thought something was reasonable, it could be done.
Moreover, Hu Ma sensed another meaning in Elder Brother Sun's words.
When he first offered sacrifices to his foster mother, some mysterious things appeared in the forest. Elder Brother Sun immediately redirected the offerings to them and made him bow.
The village didn't know about this, but Elder Brother Sun must have remembered it.
This so-called mountain worship wasn't really about the mountain; it was about showing respect to these spirits as if they were the ancestors in the ancestral hearth.
In the past, they had remembered your grandmother's kindness and taken care of you. If you offered sacrifices this year, it would rekindle that old connection.
"I'll follow Elder Brother Sun's advice."
Understanding this, Hu Ma nodded, but he still couldn't help but want to be low-key.
He felt that if this matter became too big, he wouldn't be able to handle it.
"Don't worry, I have a sense of propriety."
Elder Brother Sun understood Hu Ma's concerns and left with the old clan leader to prepare.
They didn't fake it. Although worshipping the forest was a bigger deal than worshipping the ancestral hearth, the scale was much smaller.
First, they didn't allow women and children to participate, nor did they call all the young and strong men from the village. Only a few elders, along with Hu Ma and a few others who were part of the Red Lantern Lady Association, including Li Wa Zi, who was specially left behind, joined.
They chose the third day of the month, and a group of people brought offerings, incense, and candles, changed into new clothes, and left the village.
They walked around the forest and found Hu Ma's foster mother. It was the dead of winter, and the willow tree was bare.
The foster mother was stretching in the sparse sunlight when she suddenly saw so many people, causing the icicles to fall.
"Willow Mother, your foster son is doing well. He came back to see you during the New Year..."
Elder Brother Sun, who was the most familiar with the foster mother, warmly greeted her, babbling as he pasted red paper on her.
The foster mother didn't seem to care much about this foster son, but it was the New Year, so she couldn't chase them away, could she?
Elder Brother Sun pasted red paper on the foster mother and had the others clear away the weeds and dead branches, leaving a clean space. They placed the offerings one by one.
The foster mother looked at the bowls of chickens, fish, steamed buns, meatballs, and even a pig's head, along with the best incense, and was a bit stunned.
The willow tree, which was usually so graceful, now seemed a bit shy.
"Hu Bai Shi, the granddaughter of the Ghost Walker from Dayang Village, Hu Ma, encountered great difficulties and narrowly survived. Thanks to the deep blessings of the Hu family and the old forest elders who remembered the past, he is now healthy and has escaped the great danger. Today, he comes to offer gratitude and fulfill his vows, please accept it with a smile..."
"..."
After placing the offerings, Elder Brother Sun burned a red paper with Hu Ma's name on it, saying a few words as he did so.
Soon, the surroundings seemed to become much darker.
Deep in the forest, there were many rustling sounds, shadows moving, and branches swaying, as if the world had changed.
Looking directly, it seemed nothing but cold winds were blowing, but using peripheral vision, it felt as if the forest was filled with people.
Each had a different gaze, some were pleased, some were laughing, all looking at Hu Ma.
In front of these many gazes, Willow Mother was shivering.
"Damn, what gives you the nerve to say you're here to worship me?"
"..."
"Sure enough, they've come..."
At the same time, Hu Ma felt a chill when he sensed these gazes.
They were the same people.
The same people who had accompanied his grandmother and those who had come to see him off when he left the village.
He couldn't see them clearly now, but he could sense the familiar gazes.
Especially when he slightly raised his head, he saw that thing again in the depths of the forest with his peripheral vision.
The tree stump.
The old clan leader and Elder Brother Sun had discussed this mountain worship, and Hu Ma still felt uneasy about it.
But they, it seemed, had been waiting for a long time?
Taking a deep breath, he was about to bow when he heard a commotion in the distance, with shouts and curses:
"What great abilities do you have in Dayang Village to come and worship the forest outside?"
(End of Chapter)
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