1986: Old Stories in Northeast China

"You all like to hear this? Then let's talk while eating. It will take a while to finish. Doudou is thinking about hot pot."

Facing everyone's eyes, the second master said with a smile.

"Well, it's time to eat meat." Doudou nodded his little head.

Everyone was happy too. Curiosity and hot pot don't conflict.

They hurriedly prepared it, still with the traditional clear soup base. After the mutton was shaved, the hot pot was ready.

"Second Grandpa, it's time to talk."

As soon as he sat on the stool, Lu Dan couldn't wait to ask.

"Then talk about it." The second master was happy.

"Actually, worshipping the mountain is also offering sacrifices to the mountain. What is the purpose? It is to pray for peace and good luck. People who make a living from the mountain are all the same."

"We are still a little short of it. Going further north, there are people who cut down trees and set up rafts in the mountains. They must worship. How do they worship? They tie the saw and axe with red ropes and worship them next to the land temple or the mountain god temple."

"These jobs look simple, but they are actually very dangerous. Before cutting down a tree, you have to take a look to see if there is anyone in that direction."

"But even so, the situation continues every year. Including when setting up rafts, it is also dangerous. So you have to bring some offerings to honor the local land or mountain god."

"In fact, there was a mountain god in our Erdaoling in the early years, but it was demolished in those years. It was people from the city who came here, and it is said that they did not end well after returning."

"Second Grandpa, is this true?" Lu Dan shuddered when he heard it, and his hands holding the mutton trembled.

"Really or not, I don't think it's that important. I said this, and you guys just listened to it, and that's it." Erye said with a smile, and took a sip of wine.

"Second Grandpa, go on. Then didn't you build a whole temple for the mountain god?" Qi Cuiwen asked hurriedly.

"Girl, is it so easy to build a temple? My old bones can't stand it." When Erye said this, he glanced at Chen Tiezhu.

Don't be too obvious about that, this guy will definitely be able to stand it.

"Well, Erye can't just talk, he has to eat meat too." Chen Tiezhu grinned.

"Then it's our hunters' worship of the mountain." Erye said seriously.

"In the past, our village depended on Erdaoling for support. So I led the villagers to worship at the foot of the mountain."

"Now we don't need to do that. Even if we don't go up the mountain, we can still support ourselves. But hunters have their own rules. Before they officially go into the mountains to hunt, they have to worship."

"As for offerings, it all depends on your own intentions. Just prepare them well. Whether it's at the foot of the mountain or at the mountain god temple, if you put your intentions into it, you'll get what you want."

"Another thing is, after hunting in the mountains, take some blood and sprinkle it on the tree trunks. This is to thank the mountain god for bestowing us with good luck and not letting us return empty-handed."

"Earlier, in fact, they took the liver of the prey, tied it with a red rope, and tied it to the tree trunk. This can more or less remind those who come later that someone has hunted in front of them. Hunting, bows and arrows, guns and cannons have a certain accuracy. "

"If you want to hunt in the mountains for a long time, don't you have to make a fire and cook? When eating, first worship the sky, then the earth, and finally the mountain god."

"No matter what method, the main thing is to do this. In the past, this was feudal superstition, so no one has done it for many years."

"Even when I was not injured, I rarely went up the mountain. Even if I went up the mountain, I just took Da Huang around the first ridge and let Da Huang chase pheasants, rabbits, etc."

"What if we encounter a large animal? Da Huang smelled the scent, and we both hurried home. Don't seek this danger, live a peaceful life. "

"Second Master, just say it, why do you always look at me?" Chen Tiezhu said helplessly.

"Is there? No, you see wrong." Second Master said seriously.

Everyone was amused.

It seems that it is rare to see Erye speak so humorously.

"Tiezhu, listen to Erdanzi." Old Man Han said.

"Now I finally know how weird your Erdaoling is. Such a weird place, let's worship it, just to seek peace of mind."

"Some old rules must be followed. You are living a stable life now, like us who carry guns and travel all over the country, and we have indeed experienced some inexplicable things."

"Sometimes it's just a blessing in the heart, so you can escape a disaster. There is no explanation for this thing. It was just a thought that popped up at that time."

"Otherwise, let's say I don't know how many times I have seen Marx. The older I get, the braver I am.It's getting smaller and smaller. I didn't have reverence in my heart when I was young, but now it's not the case. "

"Don't worry, old man. I'll go to the county to buy tonight, and I'll definitely worship before entering the mountain tomorrow." Chen Tiezhu nodded seriously.

"Second Master, how should we build the mountain god temple? It doesn't need to be built like a temple in a temple, right? That would be a huge project, and it's not easy to build."

"You choose the location. Wherever you go, if you think there should be a mountain god temple, then build it here." Second Master said seriously.

"You decide the size, as long as it can accommodate the mountain god. You also decide what to worship. A tree or a stone on the mountain can be the Dharma body of the mountain god."

"Building a temple is nothing more than giving the mountain god a place to shelter from the wind and rain. There can also be an altar for the mountain god to receive the incense from the world. "

Chen Tiezhu scratched his head.

The Second Master said a lot, but it sounded like he didn't say anything.

Why do I feel like he's being a bit confused?

The Second Master looked at him with a smile, "When choosing a site for a temple, it's all about fate. The Dharma body of the mountain god is even more of a fate."

"If you can't choose, it means the time has not come yet. When the time comes, you will know what to choose. This mutton is really good, very tender."

"Hey..., the main point is a blind guess." Chen Tiezhu sighed.

"Hahaha, you're not bad if you say so." The Second Master was happy.

"Blind guessing is also a skill, and it's not that easy to guess correctly." He Lao smiled and added.

"Did you two understand?" Chen Tiezhu looked at Qi Cuiwen and Lu Dan.

"I understand the words, but I don't understand the meaning. "Lu Dan said.

Qi Cuiwen nodded in agreement.

Chen Tiezhu looked at his precious daughter again.

Doudou, who was about to put the mutton into his mouth, looked at it and put the mutton in his bowl. If you are greedy, we will give it to you.

"Hahaha, my daughter has become good." Chen Tiezhu praised happily.

"Shameless, she even snatched food from the child. Doudou eats by himself, don't worry about him." Han Xiuying said, and picked up a lot of mutton for Doudou.

"Let's talk about it in the village at night, after all, there are other people who will go up the mountain to hunt. If you want to worship the mountain, lead everyone to worship together." The second master said.

"Yes, this is nothing." Chen Tiezhu nodded.

In fact, he was a little nervous in his heart, after all, there were some things about him that he couldn't explain.