The gongs and drums had kept sounding after the procession left the village for the shore. Only when Mazu's palanquin stopped outside Ye Yaohua and Ye Yaopeng's homes did the noise cease.
The neighboring households had all lit their incense ahead of time. Once the palanquin was set down, they took turns placing incense in its shrine. If the men of a household were away, the women offered the incense.
After offering her incense, Lin Xiuqing walked over to Ye Yaodong and asked with concern, "Are you all right? Tired?"
"Of course I am. My shoulders feel bruised, and I've got more than one blister on my feet. Good thing we're nearly done."
"Once everyone here has offered incense, we'll go straight to the beach. After the procession around the beach, we'll install her in Tianhou Palace, and that'll be it."
"Mm."
There were only ten households in their immediate neighborhood at present, so the incense offerings went quickly. The couple had only exchanged a few words before it was time to lift the palanquin again.
The gong-and-drum troupe and the traditional suona band started playing again.
As the procession headed toward the beach, the villagers followed behind. Earlier, every household had needed someone to stay behind and wait to offer incense, so not everyone had gone out to watch. This time, the entire village really was heading to the beach.
The tide was going out, leaving the sand passable. They walked along the coastline from east to west, then stopped in the middle of the beach.
Everyone stood on either side, while Mazu's palanquin, carried by Ye Yaodong and the other seven men, stopped right in the center.
The suonas kept playing, and the dragon dance troupe moved into the middle to perform before Mazu's statue. It was a