This table is too spacious.
According to the rules left by the elders Tianjin Guard, the flowing seats for weddings and weddings are divided into three, six, and nine classes. But today, the one Fifth Master Qin hosted for Master Zhu Xin was directly "eight bowls and four plates."
The wine is aged Zhigu Sorghum. It is very fragrant when opened. When poured into the bowl, there is a pile of hops.
Seventy or eighty round tables were laid out in the courtyard, from the main room to the entrance of the alley.
The sounds of clinking glasses and slurping vegetable soup mixed together, forming a vapor that was too thick to dissolve.
And above all this noise is the song "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix".
Sun Family Troupe's blowers really worked hard.
This piece of music is long and difficult. When you take a breath, you have to hold your Dantian for a breath without letting go.
Troupe Leader Sun personally led the blowing, and the suona sound was so high that it reached into the clouds, sometimes like a phoenix singing in the sky, sometimes like a hundred birds chirping, it suppressed the noise in the whole yard, and made every guest who was eating meat feel a tremor in his heart from time to time.
As long as the banquet is eaten, the suona will be played.
The cheeks of the players were as bulging as toads, and beads of sweat were dripping down their foreheads. A disciple immediately handed them hot towels and warm tea. They changed players without changing the music, and just continued the song Essence, Qi, and Spirit.
It was not until the dead of night and the moon climbed over the treetops that the guests dispersed one after another.
Everyone's belly was full after eating, and their mouths were full of oil. When they were leaving, they cupped their hands in the direction of the mourning hall and chanted "Fifth Master benevolence and righteousness, Master Xin go well".
The excitement dissipated, the leftovers were removed, and the courtyard returned to desertedness.
Then Madam Cui couldn't kneel down for a long time. His knees hurt as if they were pricked by needles. He wanted to slip away as soon as his body tilted.
But as soon as she moved, a cold gaze swept over her.
Qin Geng didn't say anything, just walked towards that station, which was like an iron tower.
Madam Cui was frightened and looked at the Cui Family and the big House Guard who followed her as if asking for help.
That big House Guard is usually a domineering and domineering master, with a dick in his waist all the time, but tonight, his eyes have been completely opened.
He saw with his own eyes that Ye Lanzen Master Ye was sitting at the main table, Third Master Cao and Fifth Master Qin had a glass of wine, and both Dragon King Society and Abacus Song had to smile.
Where is this Fifth Master Qin and what is the Carriage Driver leader?
This is clearly a man who knows everything!
Big House Guard is also a seasoned veteran, so he still has some discernment.
Not to mention helping Madam Cui, he now wishes he was a transparent person.
Seeing Madam Cui looking over, the big House Guard twisted his face and pretended not to notice. While several guests were leaving, he lowered his head and ran away dejectedly among the crowd.
Didn't even say hello.
Madam Cui's heart suddenly went cold. Looking at the back of the big House Guard, she knew that she was in trouble today.
"Kneel down."
Qin Geng's voice was without any warmth, echoing in the empty yard.
Madam Cui trembled all over. He dared not disobey in the slightest. He could only grit his teeth and knelt straight again. Facing the dark wooden coffin, listening to the faint sound of wind, he was so frightened that he was covered in chaff.
"Master Xin, watch."
"You cared about your family ties during your lifetime and did not want to compete with these beasts. Today I will set the rules for you."
"I didn't hit her or scold her, I just let her kneel."
Qin Geng thought silently in his heart, his eyes sweeping over Madam Cui who was kneeling on the ground and shivering.
It was extremely cold this night.
Qin Geng didn't go into the house, just in the open yard, keeping vigil and practicing Qigong.
He didn't do any loud punches, he just stood there and occasionally slowly pushed out a palm or kicked.
The movement seems slow, but in fact the muscles are tense, and there is a faint sound of "collapse" between the muscles and bones, which is the trembling of the big muscles.
Nowadays, his energy and blood are astonishingly strong. Even on this winter night when drops of water turned into ice, he was only wearing a thin filial piety clothes, but he didn't feel the cold at all. Instead, there was a faint heat rising from the top of his head.
As time goes by, Qin Geng is immersed in Martial Arts's insights.
Every breath seems to echo the night, the cold wind, and the atmosphere of separation between life and death.
On Book of a Hundred Trades, although [Martial Artist]'s experience value beats slowly, every time it beats, it means that his body has improved by one point.
As for Madam Cui, he could hold on at first, but later he felt so cold, sleepy, and scared that his body swayed, fell to the ground, and fell into a daze.
Qin Geng glanced at it and called to Madam Cui again, asking her to continue kneeling.
This kind of person deserves to suffer a little.
Early next morning.
A faint green light just appeared on the horizon, and the air was filled with the unique crisp smell of morning frost.
Gathering Inn's masters were still snoring in bed, while Lu Xingmin had already arrived.
He changed into a more solemn black cloth gown, wore thick-soled cloth shoes, held a large package in his hand, and entered the yard solemnly.
As soon as he entered the door, he saw Qin Geng standing in the courtyard like a javelin. His mourning clothes were already wet with dew, but he was in high spirits and his eyes were restrained.
"Didn't sleep?"
Lu Xingmin took a breath and put down what he was holding.
"Didn't sleep."
Qin Geng stopped his momentum and let out a long breath of turbid air. The white air shot out three feet away like a sharp arrow, condensing and not dissipating.
Lu Xingmin's eyes flashed with admiration, and then he pointed to the entrance of the alley behind him. "I don't think you can sleep either. Today is the day of the funeral."
"There are a lot of rules at a funeral, especially when it comes to carrying the coffin."
Lu Xingmin said sternly, "I know you have many brothers, and those Carriage Driver guys pulling foreign trucks are all very strong. It's no problem to ask them to help with the lifting on weekdays. But carrying a coffin, especially a century-old Cypress Wood coffin, weighs at least a thousand catties."
"Besides, it's not a short journey to Origin Mountain. There is a strict rule called "Don't drop the coffin to the ground."
"Once there is a fight, if the coffin falls to the ground halfway, it is a bad omen, which means that the deceased is unwilling to leave, or his soul is restless, and a big mess will occur, which is not good for the owner's family and future generations."
"Carriage Drivers can pull carts very fast, but they can't do this kind of work where they have to walk steadily and carry heavy loads over long distances."
"So I didn't use your people. I went to Eternal Peace Carrying House specifically and hired eight high-level Porter."
"These eight people have been eating this bowl of rice for half their lives. They are the eight big bars with calluses on their shoulders. When they walk, their waist and horse are integrated into one, ensuring stability."
Hearing this, Qin Geng nodded. "Shopkeeper Lu is still thoughtful. I don't understand this matter. It's all up to you."
"Besides, I've also decided on the route."
Lu Xingmin took out a simple map from his pocket and pointed it to Qin Geng: "Out of Tanlong Alley, let's go Zhengyang Avenue and bypass Bell Tower, all the way to the west. When we get to Xun River Wharf, I have already contacted the ferry over there. It is a large barge and is stable. It can transport the coffin directly across the river, eliminating the bumpy journey of a long way."
"On this road, you are a filial son and have to lead the way, but I have to hold the banner that leads the way."
"And that----"
Lu Xingmin pointed at Madam Cui who was huddled in the snow. "She is my niece. Although she is not a good person, the blood relationship cannot be broken. There will be a funeral later, and she must be allowed to hold the portrait."
"Look outside. It's for the wandering ghosts passing by. It's also for the people all over the city. Tell everyone, Master Zhu Xin is gone."
"When you come back, it will be the "returning spirit", and the portrait must be held in reverse, facing each other."
"This rule cannot be messed up at all."
Qin Geng wrote them down one by one, "OK, I remember them."
Lu Xingmin Without further ado, he opened the package he brought.
At the top is a portrait.
It was drawn with charcoal in black and white, but it captured the charm of Master Zhu Xin very accurately.
Master Zhu Xin in the painting has his eyes slightly narrowed, a cynical smile hanging on the corner of his mouth, and he seems to be holding the old cigarette pouch in his hand, just like he did in life.
"This----"
Qin Geng looked at the portrait and felt a little sad in his heart. "What a resemblance."
"Don't dare to lose your cooking skills."
Lu Xingmin smiled and called to the boys who came behind him, "Bring them all in! Handle them with care!"
I saw the boys bringing in a lot of colorful paper bundles from outside.
This is not the kind of shoddy stuff you find at roadside stalls, but a real fine product.
There is a two-entry courtyard house with blue bricks and gray tiles. There are two paper men standing at the door. Even the animal heads on the door knocker are painted in detail.
There are two foreign cars, the wheels can still turn, and the hoods are made of real black oilcloth.
There is also a tall horse, fat and strong, with lively eyes;
A big dog that looks fierce and loyal.
There were even a few paper-tied maids, holding tea and fruit plates in their hands, with a touch of rouge painted on their faces, which looked both festive and a bit eerie.
"Master Xin I have never enjoyed any blessings in my life. When we get there, we will have all the basic necessities, including food, clothing, housing and transportation.
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Lu Xingmin patted the paper house and said, "These are made of fine bamboo shoots and mulberry paper. They will become translucent when burned. You can get them over there."
"Thank you Shopkeeper Lu."
Qin Geng gave it away again.
"I'm seeing you outside."
Lu Xingmin waved his hand, "The tomb over there has been dug. I carved the inscription last night. I used the best Bluestone, which is guaranteed to not be weathered for a hundred years. I'm just waiting for the auspicious time to come today to be buried in peace."
Time passed little by little and the sun rose higher.
Madam Cui was woken up by the movement in the yard.
She opened her eyes drowsily, her whole body was so stiff that she felt like she was falling apart, and her knees were in terrible pain.
Just when she was about to groan, she saw Qin Geng staring at her coldly.
She was so frightened that she quickly swallowed back the curses on her lips and struggled to get up.
Qin Geng walked over and stuffed the black and white portrait into her arms.
"Take it."
Qin Geng's voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable command, "There will be a funeral later, hold this in your arms and walk behind me."
"Look outside, hold me steady."
"If you fall or hold it crookedly, I will chop off your claws."
"When you come back from the burial, the photo will be facing inside."
"Did you hear that clearly?"
Madam Cui held the cold portrait, looked at Master Zhu Xin's eyes that seemed to be laughing at her in the photo, and then looked at Qin Geng's face full of murderous intent, and nodded in fear.
"Listen clearly----Fifth Master Don't worry, I will hold on tight----"
She was really scared of being tortured.
After suffering this night, she finally understood that Qin Geng was a living king of hell. If he dared to play tricks again, he would really dare to bury her.
Not long after, dense footsteps came from the entrance of the alley.
Xu Chun came with Jin He, Ma Laifu, Li Gou and others.
The shed owners from all the carriage entrances also came.
The most touching thing was that a group of ragged people with sad expressions also came.
Those are the orphans Master Zhu Xin once sponsored.
The coolie boss on the dock, the leg veteran, the watchman on the patrol—
They all carried mourning sticks in their hands, which were made of willow sticks wrapped with white paper.
A white cloth filial piety hat is tied on the head, and he wears linen to wear filial piety.
They are not related by blood, but at this moment, they are more like relatives than the niece.
"Fifth Master, let's see the old man off."
Someone with red eyes said, "We didn't have money to buy good paper bundles, so we each folded some paper ingots, hoping to bring some money to the old man."
With that said, they placed a large bag of paper ingots in front of the soul.
"The auspicious time has come---!"
Lu Xingmin glanced at the sky, held the soul-inducing flag in his hand, and sang loudly.
"Seal the coffin!"
Qin Geng took one last look at Master Zhu Xin in the coffin, knelt on the ground, kowtowed three times respectfully, then stood up and slowly closed the heavy coffin lid.
He didn't knock the deafening Descendant Nails, but just used a special wooden wedge to fasten the coffin lid shut.
"A filial son throws a basin--!"
Qin Geng walked to the door of the mourning hall and took an earthenware basin from Lu Xingmin.
This is called "Yin-Yang Basin". Once the basin is broken, the yin and yang are separated.
"Pah!"
Qin Geng loosened his grip and the basin fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.
"Awake--!"
Another shout.
Eight strong men wearing green cloth shorts and red cloth belts around their waists walked into the mourning hall.
These eight people are all big-bodied and round-waisted, with steady eyes, and they look like Lian Jiazi at first glance.
In their hands they held thick poles and ropes that only the gang room had.
"Please coffin--!"
The eight people moved in unison, passing the rope through the bottom of the coffin, attaching buckles and levers.
"Get up--!"
The leader shouted lowly.
Eight people exerted their strength at the same time, and the Cypress Wood coffin, which weighed a thousand kilograms, rose steadily from the ground without moving at all, like a cloud rising from the ground.
This is the Kung Fu of "Eight Big Bangs", which emphasizes the whole force.
"Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix--ring!"
Lu Xingmin shouted again.
Outside the yard, Sun Family Troupe, who had been waiting for a long time, once again played the shocking movement.
The sound of the suona sounded like cranes chirping in the clouds, instantly penetrating the early morning mist.
The door is open.
Lu Xingmin held the ten-foot-tall soul-inducing flag in his hand and walked in the front.
The birth date and name of Master Zhu Xin were written on the flag, and it rustled in the wind.
Qin Geng followed closely behind, dressed in filial piety, holding a mourning stick in his hand, with a solemn and sad expression.
Madam Cui hugged the portrait and followed tremblingly, with tears on his face. He didn't know whether he was cold or frightened.
Behind them, there is a group of "adopted sons and daughters" who have received favors, holding green and white mourning sticks in their hands, crying loudly.
Then came the huge Cypress Wood black coffin. The eight Porter walked steadily, each step seemed to be measured. The coffin was so stable on their shoulders that even a bowl of water would not be spilled.
To the left and right of the coffin are the blowers of Sun Family Troupe. The sounds of suonas, pipes and drums are intertwined together, making it tragic and grand.
At the end, there are hundreds of Carriage Driver brought by Xu Chun.
They worked in pairs, carrying the huge paper bundles.
Paper house, paper horse, Paper Person---- mighty and mighty.
As soon as the team came out of the alley, they were shocked by the scene in front of them.
people.
All people.
Both sides of Zhengyang Avenue were already crowded with people watching the excitement.
Because the reputation of "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" spread last night, the whole Ping'an County Town came after hearing the news.
Some of them heard the name of "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" yesterday and got up early to come here;
Some of the nearby villagers wanted to see this spectacle that only good people could enjoy.
There is little entertainment these days, so if someone holds a big funeral, it will be a grand ceremony for the whole city.
There are people everywhere in the streets and on the walls.
"Coming! Coming!"
"Listen! This is Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix! It's so bright!"
The crowd burst into exclamations of surprise.
Lu Xingmin threw the paper money in his hand into the sky.
Yellow and white paper money fell from the sky like snowflakes, covering the entire street.
The sound of the suona is heart-breaking, but it also reveals an indescribable heroism.
The team moved forward slowly, and wherever they passed, the crowd automatically gave way to a wide avenue.
"That's Fifth Master Qin, right? What a filial son."
In the crowd, someone pointed at Qin Geng, who was walking at the front, and sighed, "I heard that he and Mr. Zhu were not related to each other, but they just spent hundreds of dollars on this funeral out of loyalty."
"Isn't that right? Look at the girl holding the portrait in the back. She is her biological niece. She has a sinister look on her face. How can she be as magnanimous as Fifth Master! I heard that she wants to steal the inheritance after she hasn't been waiting for her for a day!"
"Master Zhu Xin This life is considered worthwhile. Although I died without children, I had such a adopted son who threw pots and banners."
"I heard that Master Zhu Xin was also a great benevolent person during his lifetime. Look at the group of people carrying mourning sticks. They were all orphans who received his favor back then. I heard that he saved more people than Mercy Hall!"
"Oh, this is a house that accumulates good deeds and will surely be happy!"
"This funeral was well done and decent! So decent!"
Many elderly people couldn't help wiping away tears when they listened to the sad suona sound and looked at this huge scene.
"This is joy and mourning! Walking in a beautiful way, walking in a clear way!"
As the team progressed, not only did the crowds watch the excitement, but there were more and more people.
Among the crowd, there were also many respectable people from the inner city of Jinmen, even literati wearing long gowns, who stopped to watch with complicated expressions.
They originally just came to watch the excitement of "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix", but they were shocked by the huge momentum and the solemn loyalty.
As soon as "Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" was played, the reputation of two people in Tianjin was completely established.
One is Master Zhu Xin who is kind and charitable but hidden in the public.
One is Fifth Master Qin who attaches great importance to love and righteousness and has a promise worth a thousand dollars.
In this troubled world, this is more precious than gold.
Qin Geng walked at the front, listening to the sound of suona in his ears and looking at the road under his feet.
"Master Xin, did you see it?"
"This is my last trip to you."
"Let's walk in glory, no one dares to laugh at you for being a down-and-out old man."
The wind blew through the soul-inducing flags, making a rustling sound, which seemed to be the old man's response to being under the Nine Springs.
The team marched through the main street of Ping'an County Town and headed towards Seven Mountains of Tianjin outside the city.
There are people setting up road festivals at intersections, which are the respect of Carriage Driver and friends from all walks of life.
On this day, the whole city is in mourning, Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix, sending Master Xin back to the mountain.