Chapter 109 Respect

The longer Hu Ma lived in this world, the more respect he felt for it.

Not respect for any individual, but a deep understanding that the human race itself was worthy of respect for being able to survive in this sinister and bizarre world.

And because of this, he knew how important the villagers considered the ritual for the Old Fire Pit.

In his previous life, Hu Ma also knew about these things, but back then, he didn't really believe in them. Sometimes, when he saw older people preparing so meticulously and attaching so much importance to these seemingly empty rituals, he found it difficult to understand.

He even thought they were wasting their energy and money on these illusory things, but now, he was gradually coming to understand.

Expressing respect for the unknown is itself an attitude towards life.

And in this world, these rules and rituals were even more shrouded in a mysterious and rigorous aura.

In particular, why did Granny Hu, with all her abilities, insist on staying at the Old Fire Pit?

Was it really just so that she could be protected by the Old Fire Pit and have a handful of protective pit ashes?

Unlikely.

Having gained experience outside and learned the skills of a night watchman, Hu Ma already knew that there were many ways to survive in this world. Just like the towns and villages around Zhuangzi, they didn't have an Old Fire Pit, but they could still ward off evil spirits by worshiping the Red Lantern Goddess.

The Old Fire Pit seemed to be an ancient and traditional way of warding off evil and paying respects to ancestors in this world…

The more he learned, the more Hu Ma realized how unfathomable Granny Hu was.

And he maintained a deep sense of awe for every decision she made, so Hu Ma also took the Fire Pit ritual very seriously.

Fortunately, Second Master Zhou was there to teach him and help with the preparations.

The Fire Pit ritual was a major event in the village, and every household had to prepare carefully. Of course, Second Master Zhou also had his own things to do.

However, Second Master Zhou was a member of the Zhou family, and their family was led by the clan elder in the Fire Pit ritual, so Second Master Zhou was able to find some time to teach Hu Ma what to prepare, what time to go to the Old Fire Pit, what clothes to wear, and what to say.

Hu Ma noted everything down and prepared each item that Second Master Zhou mentioned in the best possible way.

In a few days, the end of the year arrived. The drinking and gambling in the village suddenly disappeared, and everyone's faces revealed a solemn and serious expression.

And just after noon, the people in the village all carried their bundles, brought their children, and supported their elders, silently walking towards the Old Fire Pit in the center of the village. From a distance, the crowd surged, giving off a mysterious and silent aura.

The old clan elder stood beside the Old Fire Pit, lowering his voice to order the villagers to kneel down according to the rules of previous years and not to fight.

There had been no shortage of fights over places closer to the ancestors.

"Little Hu Ma, come forward."

Seeing that the edge of the pit was already full of kneeling people, the old clan elder saw Hu Ma coming with his bundle and called out in a low voice.

So Hu Ma squeezed through the crowd, and an old man kneeling in front signaled his family to move back and leave a space for Hu Ma.

Hu Ma gratefully nodded to the other party, everything understood without words.

The family that yielded the place was the Cui family.

The Cui family was originally one of the four major families in the village, and could even be considered

When the children from this Red Lantern gathering returned, the Cui family didn't even have the nerve to come to the lively banquet.

Afterwards, everyone was inquiring about how to send their children in, but they couldn't ask.

But when it came to this ancestral ritual, they were still supposed to kneel in the front. The only difference was that in the past, this position belonged to Granny Cui and her four strong and unreasonable sons, but this year it was replaced by another elder of the Cui family.

But that was according to the rules of previous years, and this year there were differences. First, Granny Hu Baishi had entered the pit, and second, the Hu family had produced a young steward.

The position was not easy to change, as any change would lead to fights.

But in special circumstances, it had to be changed. Bringing Hu Ma to the front was not just respecting him, but mainly respecting Granny Hu and the Hu family.

Of course, Hu Ma's status as a steward played a big role.

Of course, the Cui family could have refused to yield and taken the opportunity to make trouble, but this elder of the Cui family directly yielded.

Even the old clan elder's act of asking Hu Ma to come over was intentional.

It was an opportunity to ease the relationship with the Cui family and resolve their grudges.

Although the Cui family only moved back a position, this was already a major event in the eyes of the villagers.

No matter how powerful Hu Ma became in the future, he could no longer trouble the Cui family.

And the Cui family could finally take this opportunity to sever ties with Granny Cui's branch and not be implicated by them.

…

…

"Please ancestors open your eyes…"

Right in front, closest to the Old Fire Pit, the old clan elder gave a long shout. The villagers, who were kneeling all over the hillside, led by the head of the household, all untied the bundles in front of them, placed them on the ground, and took out incense, bowls, paper strings, and so on.

They lit the three incense sticks in their hands and raised them high towards the Old Fire Pit. The fragrance permeated the hillside. The old clan elder waited for a while, and seeing that everyone had lit their incense, he raised the incense in his hand and shouted:

"First bow to the ancestors for protecting our peace, may filth and demons not touch us."

"Second bow to the ancestors for protecting our houses and fields, may the high fences and large villages block evil spirits."

"Third bow to the ancestors for bringing good fortune, may the five grains be abundant and the jars full of money."

"Fourth bow to the ancestors for ascending to immortality early, so that descendants have no difficulties and ancestors can rest in peace…"

"…"

The old clan elder bowed to the Old Fire Pit with three incense sticks in his hand each time he shouted a sentence.

And behind him, the people all over the hillside also bowed down with the old clan elder. For a time, smoke curled up, covering the mountains and fields. The yin wind did not rise, and the sounds of animals were not heard. Even the children in the crowd seemed to be infected by this solemn atmosphere and did not cry or make noise.

Gods are three, ghosts are four, even when worshiping the ancestors in the Old Fire Pit, it is four bows.

Hu Ma followed the elders around him and the old clan elder in front, following one by one, and thinking silently in his heart.

"Is the old clan elder reciting what he thought of because of his sincerity, or is it passed down?"

"The words in these ancient rules are all straightforward and simple, but they seem to convey some kind of thought and prayer…"

"…"

After worshiping the Old Fire Pit, it was time to offer sacrifices.

With a command from the old clan elder, the crowd took out the fish, meat, rice, and grain they had prepared beforehand and walked towards the Old Fire Pit, placing their offerings before returning to the crowd.

For a time, the area around the Old Fire Pit was filled with bowls and plates, all filled with food that each household usually couldn't bear to eat and had saved up.

"To reassure the ancestors, our Da Yang Village has been free from disasters and difficulties this year, and our descendants are safe…"

After placing the sacrifices, the old clan elder straightened his back and spoke to the Old Fire Pit. The fragrance swirled around him, and only his voice could be heard. He seemed to be talking about some major events in the village, even mentioning the success of Hu Ma and others.

"Burn paper money…"

After finishing his speech, the old clan elder kowtowed and shouted loudly towards the back.

In an instant, the silent and solemn crowd became busy again. The families who had just offered sacrifices rushed up again, taking back the sacrifices they had prepared.

The ancestors only enjoyed the sacrifices, but they didn't really eat them, so each family had to take them back.

However, the rules in Da Yang Village had their own characteristics. Once taken back, there was no distinction between them. You took whatever you saw.

But the villagers didn't mind. You took mine, I took yours, it was all a reward from the ancestors.

They wouldn't mind if the pig's head they prepared was taken by someone else and they only took back three steamed buns from another family.

Instead, they felt it was a good thing.

At the same time, some people took the sacrifices, and the heads of each family began to burn paper money. For a time, paper scraps flew around and flames spread. Some people's eyes were reddened by the smoke.

The clan elder had arranged for people to guard around to prevent the flying sparks from igniting the firewood, but those people seemed to be standing there for nothing, because the paper burned this year seemed particularly effective.

Gusts of wind swirled and brought the flying sparks back.

It was as if the ancestors in the Old Fire Pit were petty and unwilling to let others snatch what their descendants had burned for them.

"Alright, it's time to invite the ancestors to come home for the New Year!"

After burning the paper money, the atmosphere had relaxed a bit, and the old clan elder turned around and smiled at the villagers.

The villagers were still not talkative, but they carefully picked up the incense they had burned in front of them and muttered words, calling out "Father, Mother," "Grandpa, Grandma," "Big Brother, Little Brother," and so on, asking them to follow the incense and go home with them for the New Year.

While chanting, they dispersed from beside the Old Fire Pit, and from a distance, only dots of incense could be seen flying towards each household from beside the Old Fire Pit.

On this day, each household in the village placed delicious food on the table and cleaned the Eight Immortals table and the Grand Tutor's chair.

However, no one would sit on the Grand Tutor's chair, and the tables were empty.

The wine and dishes were served, but the living did not sit at the table.

Hu Ma also followed the rules. Holding the three incense sticks that had not yet burned out, he invited Granny Hu to come home for the New Year, because he knew that Granny Hu's situation was different, so he didn't know if he could really invite Granny Hu to come.

But the rules could not be wrong in the slightest. He also placed wine and dishes and a Grand Tutor's chair in his own small house, and inserted the three incense sticks into the incense bowl on the table.

He glanced outside, and it was already dark.

Everyone was staying in their own homes, and even Second Master Zhou couldn't come to his house today. There was only himself and Xiao Hongtang here.

Looking at the empty Grand Tutor's chair and the straight-burning incense, he didn't know if Granny Hu had returned.

But just as he picked up a portion of dumplings and prepared to put them in the pot, he suddenly saw Xiao Hongtang, who was riding on the threshold as if waiting for something, suddenly looking outside the door.

A simple smile appeared on her face, and she shouted crisply to Hu Ma:

"Grandma is back for dinner…"