Exorcism wasn't limited to the altar. Villagers dressed as gods and ghosts would hold cypress and willow branches and march through fields, streams, and thatched houses, chasing the evil spirits to the sacrificial fires burning in the fields and burning them.
With a burst of gongs, the villagers at the altar made way for the spirits. The spirits formed into ten columns of ten, each led by a gong officer, and left the village community. The villagers followed behind them, performing exorcism rituals in every household and on the ridges and drying grounds.
Xu Jiang saw Zeng Zhui follow a group of ghosts and gods out, and then went to look at Zhong Lu. Zhong Lu was being pulled by the village chief and elders of various tribes, and was about to go to the village chief's house.
He looked up at Lou Yunchun and Xu Jiang, then shouted to them, "Yunchun, Madam Xu, come on, come together."
Lou Yunchun waved his hand at him and replied, "No, let's go watch the exorcism."
Then he pulled Xu Jiang and followed the last group of ghosts and gods.
Xu Jiang asked as they walked, "Why don't you go?"
Lou Yunchun replied, "They went there to drink. The wine here is strong, and people who don't drink it often can't stand it."
The villagers were warm and hospitable, and those with Zhong Lu were all elders. If they offered a toast, he and Xu Jiang, as juniors, would find it difficult to refuse. Besides, if one drank, another was waiting. If we left with them, we wouldn't be able to leave with our heads held high today.
"I don't know what this wine tastes like. When we leave later, let's buy a few jars from the villagers and drink it slowly when we get home."
"good."
The two followed the Nuo exorcist team out of the village. This team was heading towards the fields. In addition to the ten ghosts and gods, there were also many villagers following. Xu Jiang and Lou Yunchun followed at the end.
Xu Jiang listened to the farmers' songs coming from the front and found them very fresh. Some of them sang about the solar terms, some drove away rats, and some prayed for good weather. The content was simple and rich.
She said to Lou Yunchun, "If these peasant songs were published in a book, it would be great for children's enlightenment."
The imperial court attaches great importance to agriculture, so I think there should be a market for it.
Lou Yunchun nodded and said, "The sages value truth and integrity. Today's scholars should not only read the books of sages, but also books on agriculture and water conservancy. If they want their officials to truly benefit the people, they should do so."
Although Xu Jiang didn't have much respect for the late emperor's actions regarding Lin Qinnian, she admired his reforms to the imperial examination system, which encouraged the recruitment of scholars from humble backgrounds into the government. Scholars from humble backgrounds often came from families of fishermen, woodcutters, farmers, and scholars. They should be sensitive to the seasons and understand the hardships of farming, so that they could more effectively benefit the people as officials.
"When I have some free time in the future, I will come to this country to collect the folk songs, publish them in a book, and put them on the shelves for sale."
"Well, I'll come with you then."
"It's a deal."
The two looked at each other and smiled.
The procession passed through the fields, the villagers stepped on the frozen soil and ice with steady steps, and the ghosts and gods awakened the dormant spring hope with the sound of gongs.
"Look, it's so lively over there." Xu Jiang shouted, pointing ahead.
"That's the fire sacrifice site," a villager said. He then looked at the two of them and asked with a smile, "Are you two here with Master Zhong Lu?"
Xu Jiang nodded, "Yeah."
"First time here?"
"Yes."
"You've definitely come at the right time. Not only will we be burning the filth, but we'll also be having delicious food and wine. It's going to be a lively occasion."
"Really? They say farm food is delicious, so we must try it."
While chatting and laughing with the villagers, they soon arrived at the fire sacrifice site. After a while, the rest of the Nuo exorcism teams also arrived one after another.
Zhong Lu was coming over here supported by the village chief. His face was full of alcohol and his feet were soft, like a drunken immortal. It seemed that he had drunk a lot.
Xu Jiang thought to herself: Fortunately they didn’t go.
The sacrificial fire is made of firewood, piled into a circle, about two or three people high, and can be surrounded by forty or fifty people. After the guests, village chiefs, and elders of various ethnic groups arrive, one person from each of the Nuo-exorcising procession will hold a torch and light the sacrificial fire simultaneously from different directions.
There must have been some clear oil sprinkled on the firewood pile. As soon as it touched the torch, the flames jumped up and quickly ignited the entire firewood pile. Then the sound of gongs and drums resounded throughout the wilderness, and ghosts, gods, and villagers danced around the fire.
Xu Jiang and Lou Yunchun were also pushed into the crowd and pulled by the villagers to dance.
The preface says: Emotions are stirred in the heart and expressed in words. When words are not enough, I sigh. When sighs are not enough, I sing forever. When singing forever is not enough, I dance with my hands and feet.
The villagers are not well versed in literature and do not recite poetry or books. They only use singing and dancing to express their respect for the gods, their anticipation for the coming year, their love for the land, and their enthusiasm for life.
Xu Jiang was immersed in it, and the old wounds in her soul were healed bit by bit. Amidst the singing and dancing, the flowers of thorns bloomed from the scars.
She laughed loudly and danced wildly. Lou Yunchun held her hand, and also held that brave and fearless soul.
"Ouch, I can't dance anymore." Xu Jiang pulled Lou Yunchun out of the crowd, then brushed away the snow on the haystack beside them and sat down side by side.
As soon as I sat down, I saw someone in the crowd being lifted up and thrown into the air. When I looked closely, who else could it be but Zeng Zhui?
He has become one of the villagers and has become a villager himself. Xu Jiang suddenly remembered his pragmatic ideas and thought that if he entered the government in the future, he would definitely be a good official who cares about the people's livelihood.
Looking at Zhong Lu again, he was also pulled by the villagers to dance, but he danced staggeringly and almost fell to the ground several times, which made the villagers laugh, and he also laughed.
Xu Jiang was delighted and couldn't help laughing too.
When Lou Yunchun saw her like this, a smile appeared in his eyes.
As the fire grew fiercer, the villagers used long poles to push the firewood pile toward the center of the circle, fearing that it would fall and burn people.
"burn--"
Following the village chief's loud shout, the ghosts and gods threw the cypress branches and willow twigs in their hands into the fire. Women and children also brought worn-out shoes, socks, broken brooms and other items from their homes and threw them into the fire. This is called burning filth.
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