roccoschili Chapter 428 "Hard Love", Take a Look at the Beautiful Countryside
Chapter 428 "Hard Love", Take a Look at the Beautiful Countryside
Seriously, it's Chinese New Year!
Wangyue Village was bustling with activity because of the construction of the ancestral hall.
Even when it snows, the villagers are full of energy.
In Lin Yong's words, the corner of the ancestral hall should be repaired before the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
During the day, they build ancestral halls with fire and wind; at night, they set off fireworks with a "bang bang bang" sound!
Everywhere you go in this village, you can smell the firecrackers and gunpowder.
But Gao Mengli actually quite likes the smell of firecrackers because it represents the spirit of the New Year.
You can't smell it normally!
Ever since the truth came out that day, Wangyue Village has been like a firecracker that has been lit, filled with a joyful atmosphere every day.
Once Da Niu returned to the village, he was like a wild horse, running off to play all day long.
Gao Mengli and Lin Xi didn't restrain him from playing around.
After all, once Dou Weiyi and Dou Zhan stabilize the situation, the imperial examination system will eventually be restored.
Looking at the ox in the distance, pulling Zhou Miao and the village children together to build a snow sculpture of the Nian beast, Gao Mengli's lips curved into a smile.
Young man, enjoy your last moments of fun and play.
The days of studying diligently by hanging oneself from the rafters and pricking one's thigh with an awl are not far off!
The commotion in the village was quite loud, especially during the Lunar New Year.
The surrounding villages of Tutao and Xingyu came upon hearing the news.
They wept for a long time upon learning that a shrine was to be built for Emperor Dou.
After crying, they rolled up their sleeves and joined in the work. With many hands making light work, they worked enthusiastically.
Everyone's back was covered in sweat, but no one complained of being tired.
The women and children carried tea and dry food, making trip after trip to the construction site, their smiles never fading.
Lin Yong and Butler Zhao were so reluctant to go home that they didn't even want to get dark, and they were still carrying the blueprints.
They pointed and whispered among themselves, arguing heatedly about the layout of the ancestral hall, then turned around and laughed together, just like two playful old children.
Seeing their expressions, Gao Mengli couldn't help but smile wryly.
The village is incredibly lively at night.
This was no ordinary scene of everyday life; it was the release of joy that the entire village had suppressed for a century.
After about half a month of such lively activity, with the combined efforts of dozens of surrounding villages, the main structure of the ancestral hall was completed. With its green tiles, white walls, and upturned eaves, it looked quite impressive.
As evening approached, Lin Yong moved a chair over and stepped onto it: "Fellow villagers! The ancestral hall is almost finished, and Brother Zhao and I are thinking that we should erect a statue of the late emperor in the hall!"
Upon hearing this, the area around the ancestral hall fell silent for a moment, then erupted in thunderous cheers.
"Uncle Lin is right! It should be established! It must be established!"
"The late emperor is our root. With a statue, we'll have something to remember him by when we pay our respects in the future!"
"Exactly! We must let future generations know whose descendants we are!"
The crowd chattered excitedly, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Standing in the crowd, Gao Mengli couldn't help but facepalm when she heard the words "erect a statue".
Although she didn't want to pour cold water on things, she had no choice but to.
Helplessly, he said, "Father, let's put this statue aside for now. After all, we don't even know what Emperor Dou Zhen looks like..."
Lin Yong, who was in high spirits, suddenly felt awkward: "Oh yeah, that seems to be the case..."
How could he forget that?
If we don't know what this person looks like, how can we erect a statue of them?
"Jiangbei, Little Six, you're all well-read, but do you know what the late emperor looked like?"
Jiang Bei and Zhou Miao looked at each other, unsure how to respond.
But Lin Yong's gaze was intense, so Jiang Bei had no choice but to bite the bullet and step forward: "Um... Uncle, I did see that portrait when I was studying history, but..."
He hesitated, as if he dared not speak.
After all, the portrait that was left behind was so ugly that it didn't look like a human being.
"Sixth Brother, you speak!"
Seeing Jiang Bei choking on his words, Lin Yong turned his gaze to Zhou Miao beside him.
Zhou Miao scratched his head and could only whisper, "Godfather, what's depicted in the historical records is roughly..."
He glanced around, walked to the table next to him, picked up a brush, took a deep breath, and resignedly began to paint.
However, as the portrait became clearer, the villagers' excited expressions gradually turned into disbelief and astonishment.
"No, Sixth Brother, are you sure you're not mistaken? Is your painting skill lacking? Why don't you have Jiang Bei paint it?"
Lin Yong asked Zhou Miao three questions after seeing the drawn "person," and couldn't help but question him.
He didn't want to, but the painting was extremely ugly, with a long, narrow face...
Even in Wangyue Village, or even the entire Pingyao County, it's hard to find someone this ugly...
"Godfather... even though you don't believe it, this is indeed a portrait of a former emperor left behind by the Qianyu Dynasty..."
Zhou Miao's voice lowered, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
He actually thought it didn't look like that either; it seemed more like Qian Yuchao deliberately distorted and vilified it.
The Qianyu Dynasty was destroyed by the Yue Dynasty in less than a century.
However, rumors still occasionally circulate that the last emperor of the previous dynasty was gentle, refined, and elegant.
It is said that his small seal script is unparalleled in the world, and he is also known as the "Jade-faced Emperor".
But the portrait before me doesn't even have the proper features of an ordinary person, let alone a beautiful face.
What's more, the descendants of the Dou family are still alive.
Which one of them isn't dashing and heroic? Which one isn't gentle and refined?
Gao Mengli also came over to take a look, and then her lips twitched violently.
As expected, historical records are arbitrarily altered by the victors, downplaying the previous dynasty and glorifying themselves...
"How about this, when Lord Dou and General Dou return, we can ask them again. Perhaps they have portraits of their ancestors."
Lin Yong nodded to Gao Mengli, "That's the only way... but it's alright, we can build a body for the late emperor, and when they return, we can carve their faces too!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Zhao Hua, who was standing nearby, had a sudden inspiration: "Brother Lin!"
Today is the Lantern Festival, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and the streets are bustling with activity!
I thought, since we're going to build a body for the late emperor, why don't we carry this temporary form out first, so he can see the magnificent landscape of Pingyao today!
Where there is a sleeping dragon, there will be a phoenix chick!
Upon hearing this, Lin Yong immediately agreed, "That's a great idea! How come I didn't think of that!"
He grabbed Zhao Hua, who was still excitedly rubbing his hands together, and shouted in a voice loud enough to cure all the hard-of-hearing elderly people in the village: "Quickly, prepare the small carriage, and find some more red silk and colorful flowers to decorate it!"
Let's carry the late emperor's body to the county town for a stroll. Today is the Lantern Festival, a perfect opportunity for him to see this peaceful and prosperous scene!
Gao Mengli stood to the side, intending to offer some words of advice to be cautious.
But seeing the blinding gleam in her father-in-law's and Butler Zhao's eyes, she swallowed back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
Forget it, let's go do it!
Turning around, he searched for the roll of bright yellow silk.
Then, my second great-uncle, beaming with health, squeezed in, holding a roll of bright yellow silk: “Take a look, this is a piece of silk passed down from my ancestors. Although it’s a bit old, the color is still bright!”
It was perfect for covering the uncarved face of a sculpture.
"Second Uncle, your ancestors were quite wealthy; they even owned silk!"
Lin Yong's eyes lit up, and he quickly and carefully took it.
Second Uncle puffed out his chest proudly, "Of course, my ancestors worked in the textile bureau!"
This piece of silk was bestowed upon us by Emperor Dou Zhen in the palace years ago; ordinary people could not even touch it.
Now, it's returned to its rightful owner, and the story is complete!
Zhao Hua simply didn't want to listen and couldn't wait any longer: "Oh dear, whose ancestors weren't high-ranking officials? My ancestor was a craftsman official in the Imperial Household Department. All the bamboo lanterns and furniture in the palace were made by my ancestor!"
"Oh, what a coincidence! My ancestor was also in the Imperial Household Department, brother! So was mine!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Yong traced the origins and was surprised to find that everyone's ancestors had worked in the same place!
What a waste!
We've lived together in the same village for decades, yet the newcomers don't recognize the old friends!
"Alright, alright, let's quickly wrap the silk around it! And tie on some red silk flowers, then take the late emperor out for a look!"
Seeing that the three of them were going on and on, Jiang Shuzhi quickly interrupted them.
Second Uncle immediately snapped out of his daze and tugged at the two old men beside him: "Yes, yes, that's the important thing!"
The temporary sculpted body of the late emperor was made with peach wood as the skeleton and clay as the body.
Although his face was unadorned, his upright posture, wrapped in bright yellow silk and tied with a large red silk flower, gave him a truly solemn appearance.
Before long, the small carriage was ready.
At this moment, Grandma Zhang walked in shakily and took out three Holy Grails from her sleeve.
“My ancestors were priests, and this is a divination tool passed down from them.”
Made of peach wood, one upright and one inverted represents holiness; two uprights represent yin, and two inverteds represent yang.
Holding the Holy Grail, she respectfully bowed three times to the small carriage, silently reciting, "If the late emperor wishes to view the magnificent lantern display here, he will bestow upon me the Holy Grail."
With that, she tossed the Holy Grail high into the air.
The peach wood cup fell onto the stone slab with a crisp sound.
Everyone held their breath and looked intently, only to see that both Holy Grails were facing upside down.
This is called "Yang Cup," meaning unwilling.
Zhao Hua's smile froze for a moment, and he leaned close to Lin Yong and whispered, "Could it be that the late emperor found it too noisy and crowded here?"
Lin Yong frowned as well: "How about we try again in a quieter place?"
The second uncle grew anxious and stepped forward to take the Holy Grail: "The late emperor must have seen our sincerity, but was just too embarrassed to agree! Let me help him choose!"
He grabbed the two holy chalices and grinned at the small carriage: "Your Majesty, please don't stand on ceremony!"
The lantern festival in Pingyao County only happens once a year; you'd be missing out if you didn't go see it!
As he spoke, he flipped the two Holy Grails over, placing them face up and face down on the stone slab.
Then he turned around and shouted to the crowd, "Look! The late emperor has bestowed the Holy Grail! He's willing to stay and watch the lanterns!"
Gao Mengli: ……
Lin Xi: ……
Everyone:......
Gao Mengli couldn't help but give her second uncle, who was incredibly fierce, a thumbs up in her heart.
This was a case of "hard love" from my second uncle, because he was afraid that the late emperor would miss the city lights and that no one would witness this peaceful and prosperous era.
Whether by coincidence or not, the second uncle had just finished speaking when...
A gentle evening breeze swept by, stirring the bright yellow silk on the palanquin and the lanterns that had just been hung there.
As the lamplight flickered, it seemed as if the late emperor, his face veiled in silk, was truly gazing quietly at the everyday life of the world.
Upon seeing this, the villagers who were watching burst into cheers.
"What are you all standing there for? The late emperor has agreed, hurry up and carry it out!"
Lin Yong realized what was happening and immediately waved his hand, "Quick, light the firecrackers!"
Before the words were even finished, some quick-witted villagers had already taken out a string of bright red firecrackers from their own firecracker baskets, used a bamboo pole to hold them up, and lit them with a "crackling" sound.
"The late emperor is watching the lanterns!"
Someone shouted loudly, and the young men carrying the cart immediately ran out like arrows!
They were afraid that if they ran too slowly, the late emperor would not allow them to come out and see!
The crackling of firecrackers was deafening, and sparks flew onto the bluestone slabs, disappearing in an instant, yet igniting a lively atmosphere along the entire village road.
Da Niu led the children in chasing after the small carriage, their rabbit lanterns and lotus lanterns casting dappled shadows.
The women stood at their doorways, smiling as they stuffed peanuts and candied hawthorns onto the palanquin, chanting, "May the late emperor have a taste."
The elderly people, leaning on their canes, followed shakily at the back of the group, their cloudy eyes filled with a bright light.
The group had just left Wangyue Village when they ran into people from a neighboring village.
Someone with sharp eyes noticed the bright yellow silk on the palanquin and smelled the sandalwood scent, and immediately exclaimed, "This is... the former emperor of the Qianyu Dynasty?"
"What nonsense are you spouting? This is Emperor Dou Zhen of our Yue Dynasty, not some worthless bastard!"
A sharp shout emerged from the crowd. Second Uncle, leaning on a jujube wood cane, was so angry that his beard stood on end.
"That's it!"
The villagers of Wangyue Village echoed this sentiment.
As soon as these words came out, the crowd exploded.
People from neighboring villages gathered around, some fetching incense and candles from their homes, others carrying their own lanterns, and spontaneously joined the procession.
In a short time, the team, which originally consisted of only one village, more than doubled in size.
As we headed towards Pingyao County, the closer we got to the city gate, the more people there were.
The soldiers guarding the city originally wanted to step forward to stop them, but when they saw that the people coming were from Wangyue Village, they quickly retreated to the side, fearing that they would delay the important matter of Wangyue Village!
The lantern festival in the county town was already bustling with activity.
Various lanterns hung high on the osmanthus trees, their shimmering lights turning the night sky as bright as day.
As soon as the small carriage entered the city, people gathered around it.
The villagers of Wangyue Village quickly explained, and the atmosphere immediately became lively.
"My great-grandfather said that when the late emperor made his southern tour, he even rewarded him with a piece of pastry!"
A middle-aged man squeezed to the front and respectfully kowtowed to the small carriage.
"My ancestors were embroiderers in the palace!"
A woman holding a child stood on tiptoe, looking towards the small carriage. "I've heard that the late emperor was a good emperor who loved his people. He was diligent in his duties, reduced taxes, built schools, encouraged people to study, and even opened many bookstores so that scholars could browse books for free!"
More and more people who had been rooted in the previous dynasty gathered around. Some of them were descendants of former palace servants, while others were descendants of farmers who had received favors from the late emperor.
Others had only heard the peaceful legends about the Yue Dynasty from their ancestors.
They spontaneously made way for the procession and followed behind, muttering prayers or reminiscing.
The sound of firecrackers rose and fell, and the sound of gongs and drums also rang out.
Pang You found a gong and led the yamen runners to strike it to guide the way.
Lin Yong walked at the front of the group, looking at the growing number of people around him, and at their enthusiastic faces, he felt his eyes welling up with tears.
He turned to look at Zhao Hua and his second uncle, his voice choked with emotion: "Look, so many people, they all remember the late emperor."
Gao Mengli and Lin Xi's eyes also reddened.
They didn't know why they wanted to cry; perhaps it was the restless, clamorous DNA unique to the Great Xia Kingdom that was stirring within them.
They found their common origins in another world!