Chapter 45: Autumn Festival

After the cellar was cleaned, Lu Qingjiu put a thick layer of oil paper on it to separate the cabbage from the ground when it was stored. He took the wooden box out of the cellar, carefully cleaned it up with a wet rag, and wiped off the floating dust and dirt on it.
I couldn’t see clearly in the cellar before. After I took it out and cleaned it up, Lu Qingjiu noticed that the wooden box was jet black with no patterns on it. It was just a smooth box, but the texture of the wood on the surface of the box was very beautiful. , It feels very comfortable to touch.
At the front of the box, there is a small black text lock. The text lock is a kind of ancient lock, and it is similar to the code lock, except that the text replaces the existence of the password. The text lock needs three texts. It should be easy to try out, but Lu Qingjiu tried it with the box All the possibilities were not tried again.
Is it because the box has been left for too long and locked? Lu Qingjiu thought about smashing the lock at some time, so he put the wooden box aside.
Besides, since Lu Qingjiu said to make sugar-fried chestnuts, Yin Xun has been thinking about looking for fine sand every day. Tonight he did not know where he really found a bag of fine sand, and he was clamoring to eat the legendary. Stir-fried chestnuts with sugar.
Lu Qingjiu laughed and said, "Wash the sand first, and then you can fry it after it dries."
"Okay." Yin Xun rolled up his sleeve and volunteered to clean the sand.
Only after putting the sand in the water, I washed the two basins and did not wash out any dirty things. The white fine sand seemed to be very clean, with no dirt at all. Although Lu Qingjiu was curious, he didn't ask Yin Xun where he shoveled the sand. Yin Xun is a mountain god, so finding some sand should be quite easy.
After washing the sand, place it on clean plastic paper and dry it in the yard. After the sand dries, you can fry the chestnuts.
Today, I did a lot of things. Lu Qingjiu was busy for a day and was a little tired. He went to bed early after he made the sand. Before going to bed, he saw the wooden box on his bedside table. Open the wooden box and have a look.
However, what Lu Qingjiu didn't expect was that when he finished his breakfast the next morning and tried to break the lock of the wooden box with pliers, he found something that shocked him a little-the one on the lock. The text has changed.
The words above seem to have been completely replaced with new words. Because Lu Qingjiu tried for a long time yesterday, he almost completely remembered the words on the word lock, but now, these words have become other completely strange words, Lu Sake is sure that he has never seen these words.
How could this be? Lu Qingjiu stared at the text lock for a long time before he was sure that this was not an illusion.
He thought for a while, took the pliers and cut it hard at the text lock, but the text lock, which should have been very fragile, did not respond at all, and even after Lu Qingjiu exhausted his strength, he didn't even leave a slight trace. under.
Lu Qingjiu tried a few more times, and the text locks were as strong as ever, but the iron pliers were stuck with a small dent.
If Lu Qingjiu were an ordinary person, he might find it very strange, but there are so many strange creatures in his family, and it seems that it is not a strange thing that there are such a box that cannot be opened. Lu Qingjiu, who couldn't do anything with the text lock, carried the box to the Baiyue Fox in the yard, and asked him if there was something special about the box.
The weather is good today, the sun is shining in the yard, which makes people feel lazy.
Baiyue Fox was basking in the sun in the yard. He lazily took the box and glanced at it, and asked, "Where did you find it?"
"In my cellar." Lu Qingjiu answered truthfully.
Bai Yuehu stared at the wooden box, his expression became a little serious. Lu Qingjiu rarely saw him with such a serious expression. He became nervous inexplicably, and licked his lips and said: "Why, is this wooden box special? "
Bai Yuehu said: "It is indeed a bit special." He touched the text lock with his hand, "This type of text lock can only be opened at a specific time."
Lu Qingjiu said, "Huh?"
Bai Yuehu said, "Although only three words are needed above, in fact these words change every day. Only when a certain day comes will the specific words appear." He blinked, "Who is this? Down?"
Lu Qingjiu said: "What I found in the cellar...should be my grandma."
"Oh." Baiyuehu said, "Then this might be a gift your grandma left for you." He said, returning the wooden box to Lu Qingjiu.
Lu Qingjiu was holding the wooden box, a little confused: "But, this wooden box shouldn't be a human thing, isn't it? My grandma knows non-human beings."
Bai Yuehu's attitude towards this was rather plain, saying: "Everyone has their own secret."
"Yes." Lu Qingjiu agreed with Bai Yuehu's point of view. He said, "But I don't know the password of the box or the time to open it. Is there any way to open it forcibly?"
Bai Yuehu actually shook his head: "The material of the box and the lock are very special. They are not in the human world. If you want to open it forcibly, the contents of the box may be damaged."
Lu Qingjiu could only give up after hearing this.
Seeing that he was a little disappointed, Bai Yuehu comforted: "You can get up every morning and take a look at the box. Since your grandma left this thing specially for you, then she will definitely leave you some clues. She doesn't want you to open it. , Maybe, just not yet in time."
Lu Qingjiu said: "That's the only way." He smiled and thanked Bai Yuehu, but went back to the bedroom with the box alone.
Lu Qingjiu's family is thin and has few relatives. Apart from his parents, he has only grandma. His grandma raised him until he was eight years old, and his parents took him back to the city. It can be said that Lu Qingjiu's childhood memories are all about his grandma.
His grandmother was tall and thin, and it could be seen that she was definitely a beauty when she was young. She was not very talkative, but even if she didn't say it, Lu Qingjiu could feel her love for him in her eyes.
After the parents died suddenly, the white-haired grandmother sent the black-haired man to the grandmother, who grew older overnight. Lu Qingjiu hadn't finished his studies at that time. He wanted to take his grandma to his side, but no matter what he said, his grandma didn't agree with him. In the end, he had to give up.
This is probably the last decision that Lu Qingjiu has made. If he had returned to Shuifu Village to accompany his grandmother at that time, the old man might not have left so early.
Lu Qingjiu put down the box and his eyes fell on the text lock. He didn't know what grandma's secret was, but he knew that no matter what grandma did, he would not be harmed.
Since she didn't leave him the password to open, maybe it was just like Bai Yuehu said... not yet time.
Lu Qingjiu sorted out his mood and decided to try the code lock every morning, just like Bai Yuehu said. He felt that one day he could try the code and know what was in the box.
After putting the box down, Lu Qingjiu went to work on other things again. First he put the dried sand in the iron pan, and then roughly fry it, then put the chestnuts in the hot sand and roll them slowly. These chestnuts are all well-opened, so that they are easy to taste. After the chestnuts are almost fried, add a lot of sugar to them, and start to stir quickly to avoid the syrup sticking to the bottom of the pan. Let it cool in the pot for a while and it will start.
I have to say that stir-fried chestnuts in sugar is really a personal effort. Lu Qingjiu made a big sweat after a pot of frying, but the rich aroma of chestnuts brought everyone in the house together, two pigs and a small pig. The fox squatted beside Lu Qingjiu's feet and watched eagerly, while Yin Xun stood at the door with his head drooling.
"It's almost there." Lu Qingjiu wiped the sweat from his forehead and let Yin Xun come in to divide the chestnuts.
Yin Xun rushed to the pot. Before Lu Qingjiu had time to greet him, he saw him reach out and grab the chestnut in the pot. As soon as his hand touched the chestnut, he yelled, "Ahhhhh, it's hot." what!"
Lu Qingjiu: "..."
Yin Xun was scalded, and after he took his hands, he didn't care about his burned wounds, and he started to shave chestnuts from the fine sand with a spatula.
Lu Qingjiu couldn't stand it anymore: "Does your hand hurt?"
"It's not very painful." Yin Xun said, holding a chestnut in his hand and began to peel it. After peeling it, he put it in his mouth, and immediately shed moving tears. "It's so delicious. It's delicious." The chestnuts are crispy when they are raw, and they become soft when they are cooked. The white sugar adds a sweetness to the chestnuts, and the caramel aroma that blends the flavors of the chestnuts and chestnuts...
Yin Xun burst into tears.
Lu Qingjiu looked stupid beside him, and he didn't know if Yin Xun was crying because his hands were sore or the chestnuts were too delicious.
"It's delicious." Yin Xun said vaguely, "I declare that the most delicious fruit in the world is chestnut!"
Lu Qingjiu: "...eat it, I like to stir-fry some for you tomorrow." He gave a few piglets and little foxes, and he did not forget to pinch a small piece to hide in the fox's fur and watch eagerly. Yushi concubine.
Of course, the white moon fox, the biggest foodie in the family, will naturally not forget. Lu Qingjiu fished the chestnut out of the sand, and then a few people sat in the yard to eat.
He fryed a full seven or eight catties, but it was obviously not enough to eat. Yin Xun's stomach bulged and he was unwilling to stop. The white-moon fox, a carnivore, is also very interested in chestnuts. Although peeling is a bit troublesome, there is a big difference between the taste of peeling and not peeling...
After eating these few catties of chestnuts, dinner was almost saved. Lu Qingjiu and Yin Xun stated that they were going to the town in the morning. He and the boss ordered a lot of duck eggs to make salted duck eggs, and planned to make bacon together. .
Yin Xun nodded and said that he would come here soon.
The autumn breeze is rustling, but it is also the harvest season. The persimmon trees in the east of the village are covered with yellow persimmons, like beautiful yellow lanterns, swaying with the autumn wind on the branches.
In the harvest season of autumn, the village is also a prosperous scene. Walking outside, you can see villagers carrying grain everywhere, and their faces are full of joy of harvest.
The weather this year has been smooth and there is no unusual weather. It seems that the harvest in Shuifu Village is very good.
Lu Qingjiu went around the village to digest. When he was about to go back to sleep, Uncle Li next door knocked on his door.
"Uncle Li, what's the matter?" Lu Qingjiu asked.
"Sake, the autumn harvest festival will be held in Houtian Village." Li Shu said, "Don't forget to come when you come, it's in the dam at the head of the village."
Lu Qingjiu then remembered that Shuifu Village still has this tradition, nodded and said, "Okay, I will definitely come then."
Uncle Li said: "Okay, I'm just afraid you forgot, so I will remind you."
"Thank you, Uncle Li." Lu Qingjiu smiled and thanked.
Because it depends on the sky for food, every year Shuifu Village organizes an autumn harvest festival in autumn, that is, each household contributes a portion of vegetables or grain, so that the women in the village can make the grain into food. After the sacrifice is finished For everyone to eat. One is to present a gift to the mountain in anticipation of a good harvest in the coming year, and the other is to connect the villagers with each other.
Lu Qingjiu hadn't returned for a long time, but he had completely forgotten the matter, and Yin Xun didn't mention it either. It's probably because this autumn harvest festival was originally a sacrifice to the mountain god. Wouldn't he be embarrassed if he went there.
The next day, Lu Qingjiu told Yin Xun about the autumn harvest festival in the car.
Yin Xun was silent for a while after listening, and said, "Oh, autumn harvest festival, are you going?"
"Should go." Lu Qingjiu didn't seem happy at all when seeing Yin Xun, "Why, don't you like it?"
Yin Xun said, "I don't like..."
Lu Qingjiu was curious: "Why?"
Yin Xun said, "Because the things they sacrifice to the mountain gods are raw, but what they eat is cooked." He was aggrieved. "And every time I can't participate as a human being, I can only look at it with eyesight. Let them eat."
Lu Qingjiu laughed loudly as he listened to Yin Xun's words. He imagined the scene and felt that Yin Xun was a bit miserable.
According to Yin Xun, he had to restore his identity as a mountain to accept the villagers' sacrifices during the autumn harvest festival, but in this way he would not be able to participate as a human being. After more times, the villagers thought he was right. If the village had any opinions, the village chief came to talk to him once, and Yin Xun could only use the embarrassing excuse that he was afraid of crowded places as an excuse.
This year is estimated to be no exception, only Lu Qingjiu and Baiyuehu will go.
Lu Qingjiu bought a lot of duck eggs and meat in the town, and added all the seasonings that were missing at home. After returning home, he began to make salted duck eggs. He originally planned to make the fermented bean curd quickly in the past few days, but because of the autumn harvest festival, it seemed that it would be delayed for a few days.
Because of the autumn harvest festival, the quiet mountain village on weekdays became lively, and the children felt like they were celebrating the festival, and they all had more delicious snacks in their hands.
Lu Qingjiu plans to bring beef and some vegetables to the autumn harvest festival. This year is the first year of returning to Shuifu Village. It is also necessary to build a good relationship with the villagers.
Bai Yuehu was not very interested in this kind of multi-person gathering, saying that he could just eat instant noodles at home.
Lu Qingjiu smiled and said, "What kind of instant noodles are you going to eat? I will steam the glutinous rice ribs for you. Just turn off the fire when the time comes. Don't forget to feed the little fox too."
Bai Yuehu nodded and said to let Lu Qingjiu go and return early.
Lu Qingjiu said hello, and went out carrying the meat. Yin Xun has not been seen today. Lu Qingjiu guessed that he should have gone to be a mountain god.
A lot of people have gathered in the dam of the village rally. Lu Qingjiu walked over carrying the meat. As soon as he got there, the old lady from the village greeted him enthusiastically. The smile on his face became even greater when he saw the beef in his hand. It was thick, Lu Qingjiu hurriedly handed her the meat, and then he found a place to sit down.
In the center of this dam is a huge wooden table, on which is a statue of a mountain carved out of stone. Of course, like all mountain gods, they looked like a goatee, kind eyebrows and good-eyed, and they couldn't stand up to Yin Xun's stupid appearance.
The women in the village put all kinds of food brought by the villagers in front of the wooden table. When it was noon, the village chief would take the lead to kneel in front of the mountain statue to worship and burn incense, and pray for the mountain to bless Shuifu Village in the coming year.
Perhaps it is because the location of Shuifu Village is relatively remote and almost isolated from modern society, this ancient method of sacrifice has been retained.
Lu Qingjiu also looked at the mountain statue, but didn't know if it was his illusion. He always felt that when he was looking at the mountain statue, the mountain with the goatee smiled at him. But when I looked closely, I found that the mountain still maintained a serious expression, looking at the void ahead.
After worshipping the mountain gods, the village chief ordered the sacrifices to be taken down and made into food in front of the stove that had been set up a long time ago.
As an outsider, Lu Qingjiu should have been sitting on the edge, but perhaps he was more generous in his shots and had a good relationship with his neighbors, but he was invited by Uncle Li to the inner table.
After the dishes were done, they were put on the table plate by plate, still steaming hot. Although the taste of these dishes is average, but the quantity is very large, because the weather in Shuifu Village is bad in winter, almost no people go out, so this autumn harvest festival has a taste of Spring Festival.
In addition to dishes, it is men's favorite spirits. The wine is also home-brewed baijiu, which is like burning a knife in your mouth, but it is pleasant enough to be popular with men. Tired of working on the ground for a whole year, a presumptuous drink is also allowed.
Lu Qingjiu took a sip of the wine and felt the wine slide down his throat, and the place where it slid was full of hot pain. When it reached his stomach, there was a flow of heat, and the previous pain became painful.
"Good wine." Lu Qingjiu praised.
"Drink it well." Uncle Li proudly said, "This is my own brew. Today I will entertain you all. Drink whatever you want and keep it full!"
This alcohol has a high alcohol content. Even if someone who has a good alcohol drink opens it up, I am afraid that he can't drink much. Although Lu Qingjiu has a word for alcohol in his name, the alcohol volume is really average. After a glass of white wine, his cheeks are blushing. , His eyes became wet.
The whole village was extremely lively. The sound of chatting, the sound of punching, and the laughter and noise made Lu Qingjiu's face a bright smile. He hasn't eaten such a lively meal for a long time, and it seems good to have such a lively occasionally.
While chatting, talking, eating and drinking, Lu Qingjiu was a little drunk before he knew it.
His head was dizzy and his consciousness was a little clear, but he couldn't control his actions. When he was lying on the table thinking that he should go home, a familiar face appeared in front of Lu Qingjiu's eyes. .
The white moon fox is here.
He walked from the other side of the village, after looking around the crowd, he noticed Lu Qingjiu who seemed to be unconscious on the table in the corner.
The crowd was still noisy, and the drunk drunks staggered everywhere, and the air was filled with pungent alcohol, which made people a little annoying. Baiyuehu walked in the direction of Lu Sake, and he saw Lu Sake drinking a little confused.
Although Lu Qingjiu had a bad drinking capacity, his wine taste was good. When he was drunk, he would not be noisy or noisy. He obediently lay on the table and didn't move. He didn't move until Bai Yuehu gently called his name. Started, looking at the white moon fox with wet eyes. The nerves paralyzed by alcohol became a little dull. Lu Qingjiu observed for a while before recognizing the identity of the person in front of him. He laughed, his eyes bent a small arc, and his mouth murmured: "Yue... Moon Fox..."
Baiyue Fox didn't answer, so he looked at Lu Sake.
Lu Qingjiu said: "I... I seem to be drunk." He sniffed and tried to stand up, but his limbs were a little unwilling, so his nasal voice brought a grievance, "Why... ...Can't stand up..."
Bai Yuehu reached out his hand, grabbed Lu Qingjiu's arm, and took him into his arms.
Lu Qingjiu obediently followed the movements of the white moon fox, but after leaning into the arms of the white moon fox, he smelled a light scent, which was obviously transmitted from the body of the white moon fox. On weekdays, Lu Qingjiu probably pretended not to smell it, but he obviously didn’t have so many worries after he drank too much. He raised his head shamelessly, like a dog looking for bones. Yuehu's neck and body smelt indiscriminately, and while smelling it, he said: "Hey, Yuehu, how do you smell so good..."
Bai Yuehu looked at the person in his arms with an unpredictable expression.
Lu Qingjiu sniffed for a while, but didn't notice it, so he stopped his movements obediently, and dozed off against the white moon fox's arms.
Bai Yuehu helped Lu Qingjiu away from the crowd, hugged him directly, and walked home like this.
Yin Xun, who had just returned home and was sitting in the yard eating glutinous rice ribs, just watched Bai Yuehu walk in from the door holding the drunk and unconscious Lu Qingjiu. He saw this scene and hurriedly took his mouth. He vomited his bones and said, "I'm back, are you drunk with sake?"
Bai Yuehu nodded.
"Put him on the bed, and I'll cook some sober soup for him." Yin Xun looked at Lu Qingjiu lying in Baiyuehu's arms, it was frightening. Lu Qingjiu didn't know what Baiyuehu was. , He knew very well that if he made this statue angry, let alone Lu Qingjiu, even the entire Shuifu Village would suffer.
Bai Yuehu said: "No, go back, I'll come."
Yin Xun's eyes widened when he heard the words. He still wanted to say something, but he noticed Bai Yuehu's cold eyes, so he swallowed all the words that came to his mouth. He laughed dryly, scratched his head, and said boldly: " You have drunk too much sake, don't worry about him."
Bai Yuehu said indifferently: "Can I still eat him?"
Yin Xun smiled dryly: "Yeah, no one will cook after eating." Knowing that it would be useless to say more, he obediently left the yard. Although he was still worried, he also understood that Bai Yuehu would definitely not Swallowing Lu Qingjiu in one bite. After all, Baiyue Fox wants to eat people, so he doesn't need to distract him. As long as he is willing, he can eat all Lu Qingjiu without even having to vomit bones.