Chapter 855 Ancestral Graves
"Ergou, is it like this where you live too? Thick white fog every morning and evening, and even on sunny days there is a thin fog."
"Isn't it supposed to be foggy in the morning and evening? Are there places where it doesn't fog?"
Sha Ergou looked up in confusion.
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Rong fell silent.
In the backyard of the Red Dust Inn, the two were squatting on the bluestone steps in front of the woodshed.
Ouyang Rong stared at the damp eaves, his gaze occasionally drifting past them to the soft orange sun veiled by the white mist in the air.
Sha Ergou, sitting next to him, was engrossed in eating a few fruits and vegetables that had just been discarded from the kitchen.
The two had just finished their morning tasks and, without prior arrangement, came here to catch some fish.
Working at the Red Dust Inn, the mornings are the busiest time. You have to help the kitchen buy vegetables and move firewood, and also feed the horses and carry the luggage for the new guests who have traveled through the night to reach the town.
On the contrary, the time between noon and lunchtime is a rare moment of leisure.
Ouyang Rong considered himself a very patient person, but after waiting in Taoyuan Town for nearly a month, he was indeed getting a little restless.
However, he quickly adjusted and mainly focused on his work.
Ringing the bell, feeding the horses, and chopping wood every day, while remaining silent, brings a sense of peace to the mind.
This is completely different from when he was the powerful and adored governor of Xunyang City.
After taking office in Xunyang City, the slight mental fatigue that had been lingering over him gradually dissipated as he engaged in physically demanding work with near self-discipline.
It would be even better if there was sunshine at this time, as sunlight is very good for replenishing energy.
Unfortunately, Taoyuan Town receives very little sunshine; most of the time, the sky is a bluish-gray, and the air is humid, much like the humid weather in Lingnan.
Especially now that what he's looking for is stuck in a quagmire, progress is slow.
Recently, Ouyang Rong took half a day off every few days to visit all the ancestral cemeteries of the major families in Taoyuan Town, including two mass graves in the west of the city... but he found nothing. There were many tombstones of the Lu family, but none of them were old tombs from the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and their scale and appearance were far inferior.
In addition, there was the long-delayed arrival of the Snow Candle.
Finally, combined with the damp "return to spring" weather, being in it gives one the feeling of having one foot in a mud pit.
Sha Ergou finished eating the half-rotten pear, threw it over the wall, turned around to look at the silent Ouyang Rong, and asked:
"Brother Liu, are you homesick?"
Ouyang Rong glanced at him, but remained silent.
Sha Ergou scratched his head:
"Actually, it's about the same, but the fog is indeed thicker in Taoyuan Town, probably because it's closer to the Great Swamp."
Ouyang Rong suddenly asked:
"Have you ever been into this great swamp? Go deep into it."
Sha Ergou shook his head:
"You can't just go in like that. The old folks in the village say there are many taboo things inside. There was an old fisherman who went in by mistake and got lost. He ended up on an island full of miasma and swamps. Luckily, he met a goddess who brought him out and saved his life. But some people are unlucky. They went in by accident and never came back. Going into the swamp is a big taboo for us villagers."
"goddess?"
“Yes, these goddesses all worship Yuanjun. They appear in the Great Swamp. No one knows where they live, but they often save us fishermen.” Sha Ergou said in a devout tone, “Yuanjun is said to be the lord of the Great Swamp, who controls the weather. All living beings in the swamp are protected by her. She is a kind goddess. Many families in the village worship her and pray for peace and happiness.”
Ouyang Rong looked up at the gray sky, and the words Li Yu had said when he was tortured in the water dungeon flashed through his ears again... Yuanjun's Guiyuanjun.
Sha Ergou, oblivious to his subtle change, continued:
"Moreover, I heard from the elders that the most dangerous thing in this great swamp is not the miasma, swamp, or poisonous insects and wild beasts, but the calm, endless water surface, without even fog, with strong sunlight, that's what's dangerous."
Ouyang Rong narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "Why is that?"
Sha Ergou shook his head:
"How would I know? I've never been there. But just thinking about it makes me shudder. Without even fog, is it even a normal place? The old folks in my village often say that although the fog obscures your vision, it's a good thing. It protects people. It blocks out many things we shouldn't see. Living by the swamp, it's good enough to just work and sleep peacefully. Don't listen to any noises from the swamp at night..."
Ouyang Rong paused for a moment, then nodded:
"That's the truth."
Sha Ergou grinned:
“My sister often says that you will suffer if you don’t listen to the elders. However, my sister has been to the outside world a few times, to places far away from our Daze. She said that there is no fog outside Daze, but just like Daze, it is dangerous, only it is a different kind of danger.”
Ouyang Rong smiled, a rare occurrence for him:
"People's hearts, right?"
"Human hearts?" Sha Ergou asked, confused. "Brother Liu has been outside?"
Ouyang Rong smiled but remained silent.
Sha Ergou continued to recall:
"However, my sister also said that there are many delicious things outside, a hundred times better than the sweetest rice cake, things you can never find in Daze..."
Ouyang Rong came to his senses and asked:
"Your own sister?"
"Yes, my parents passed away early, and it was just my sister and me living together. If it weren't for my sister, I wouldn't have dared to come to Taoyuan Town with Boss Yu."
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Rong, seeing Sha Ergou's content and carefree expression, decided not to dwell on the painful memories.
He stood up and gazed at the white mist over the vast western lake, which resembled a natural barrier.
Suddenly, I remembered the white mist formation on the Shuangfengjian River. That white mist was a secret formation overseen by the Xuanwu Guard, which concealed the Buddha statue inside the Xunyang Grottoes, creating an illusion.
Looking back now, if the Yue women of Yunmeng Sword Marsh had lived in this misty marshland for many years, they must have scoffed at the white mist illusion on the twin peaks when they first saw it...
However, could the white mist over the Yunmeng Marsh also be something like the Xuanwu Guardian Formation? Could it also be used to conceal the Yunmeng Yue Maiden and the creatures of the marsh?
But the Yunmeng Marsh is so vast, if it were truly a large formation, it would be quite an exaggeration.
After observing for many days, Ouyang Rong still leaned towards a more scientific explanation... that is, there should be no white fog in the center of the depths of the Yunmeng Great Swamp, but rather a vast body of water that was evaporated by the scorching sun, creating this thick fog that blocked the outer perimeter of the Yunmeng Great Swamp.
Just as Ouyang Rong was about to squat down again, a woman's voice called out from behind:
"Liu Aliang, Sister Song wants to see you."
It is Lady Yu.
Sha Ergou looked at Ouyang Rong with suspicion: "Why does Maid Song want to see Brother Liu? When did Brother Liu get involved with her...?"
Ouyang Rong didn't explain, but patted him on the shoulder, signaling him to wait where he was. He then stood up and went to the inn's lobby, leaving Sha Ergou with a somewhat resentful look in his eyes.
Yu Xiaoniangzi followed behind Ouyang Rong, her head slightly lowered, her eyes curiously watching the slender fingers of the dull young man, seemingly lost in thought.
After walking a few steps, Ouyang Rong frowned and turned back. Yu Xiaoniangzi looked around as if nothing had happened.
Ouyang Rong shook his head, not bothering to teach her the "finger-wrestling" technique. He silently made his way to the counter in the lobby, but Song Zhian was nowhere to be seen.
He turned his head and looked around, and in the northwest corner of the lobby by the window, he spotted that beautiful figure.
She seemed to be reciting the menu to two new guests when she turned around and saw Ouyang Rong. She immediately waved to him. Ouyang Rong obediently walked over.
Seeing that the guests had arrived, Song Zhian turned around and whispered to the couple seated at the table:
“His name is A Liang. He is very strong, a skilled swimmer, kind and honest. He arrived earlier than me and is more familiar with the town. If you two need anything, you can ask him for help.”
After she finished speaking, the two newcomers in the seats looked at Ouyang Rong, following Song Zhian's finger.
Ouyang Rong also got a clear look at their faces.
One of them was a woman, and the other was a young man.
The woman, a middle-aged woman, possessed a refined and elegant demeanor and was well-maintained. She wore a mature-looking dress and her bright eyes scrutinized Ouyang Rong intently.
The young man was about seventeen or eighteen years old, about the same age as Sha Ergou. However, he wore a headband, looked heroic and imposing, and had a long sword beside him with a well-maintained leather scabbard that looked quite valuable.
He had a folding fan hanging from his waist, which he casually pulled out and used to fan himself, looking every bit the elegant young nobleman.
Compared to the elegant, mature woman who was carefully observing Ouyang Rong, the young man with the forehead ribbon only glanced at Ouyang Rong briefly before his gaze returned to Song Zhian, his eyes fixed on the beautiful young woman who was speaking.
“Ah Liang, these two guests want a porter to carry their luggage and also a boatman to guide them. If you are available, you can take on the task.”
Song Zhian explained something to Ouyang Rong, then turned and left without looking at the young man with the forehead ribbon whose gaze was directed at her.
"You guys chat first, I'll go pour some tea."
Ouyang Rong, who remained behind, then observed the woman and the young man before him.
The young man with the forehead ribbon reluctantly shifted his gaze from the young woman's beautiful back.
"How much?"
After he finished speaking, without looking at Ouyang Rong, he picked up the teacup that Song Zhian had poured and took a serious sip.
Ouyang Rong first asked:
Where are you two headed?
The woman said gently;
“We’re going back to our hometown to visit relatives, which is like tracing our ancestors. Are you familiar with the area? How good are you at swimming?”
Ouyang Rong originally intended to recommend Sha Ergou.
The young man casually tossed a bag of money onto the table, without even looking at Ouyang Rong.
"Ready, we'll leave tomorrow morning."
The woman frowned and glanced at the young man with some displeasure.
The latter immediately became more restrained, lowered his head slightly, and picked up the money bag again with a nonchalant air.
The woman took the money pouch and handed it back to Ouyang Rong:
“My surname is Li, and this is my eldest son. We are on our way to find a place that requires us to cross water by boat. The boatmen here seem to be a bit wary of rowing into large marshes, but we are only going to a small island nearby, so it should be safe. People from my family have been here before. Hmm, think about it before you agree. If it doesn’t work out, could you please find us some helpers, preferably those who are good swimmers?”
Ouyang Rong looked at the mother and son with their different personalities, remained silent for a while, and was about to shake his head.
Just then, Song Zhian returned and bent down to put the tea in.
The young woman's waist was so slender that it could be encircled by a single hand. Especially now, as she bent slightly in front of the table, she probably didn't even realize it, yet she attracted a group of guests, including the young man with a forehead band.
Ouyang Rong thought that the boss lady, who was always so busy that she was practically invisible and had no hands-on management, was a good businesswoman.
"Thank you." Madam Li picked up her teacup, blew on the tea, and lowered her eyes, not looking at her son who was drinking tea absentmindedly beside her.
The young man with the forehead band sat upright, holding a folding fan in reverse, and bowed to Song Zhian, saying in a loud voice:
"Thank you, young lady. My name is Lu Jinghong, from Fanyang. May I ask your maiden name?"
Song Zhian lowered her head and set out the tea, her expression somewhat indifferent:
"My surname is Song."
Lu Jinghong immediately asked, "Judging from your appearance, young lady, you don't seem to be from around here, do you?"
He smiled, tilted his head, and spoke with a confident and certain tone.
She thought her words would pique the young woman's curiosity and elicit a question, but to her surprise, after setting out the tea, Song Zhian nodded to the mature woman, said "Enjoy your tea," picked up the tray, turned around, and left, as if she hadn't heard.
Lu Jinghong's smile was somewhat awkward.
A regular customer nearby chuckled and joked:
"They fled from Jiannan Road. The women there are all very feisty. They raise their daughters like men, and they are even stronger than men."
Lu Jinghong, on a sudden impulse, immediately turned around and spoke loudly to the guest, but Song Zhian and the people around could hear him:
"Although some members of the Lu family of Fanyang serve as officials in Jiannan Circuit, under the command of An Yuhan, the Pacification Commissioner of Jiannan Circuit, I have heard that Jiannan Circuit suffers from famine year after year. Scholars in Sichuan say that An Yuhan is impatient and irritable, his laws are harsh, and he only knows how to flatter his superiors. He presents gifts to powerful figures in Luoyang every year. I deeply despise him. This man is truly a scourge to the region, causing the people of Jiannan Circuit to suffer."
The guests all looked on in surprise.
A discerning guest asked loudly, "Are you a member of the Lu family of Fanyang?"
The moment the words "Fanyang Lu Clan" were uttered, all eyes turned to them.
The Lu family of Fanyang is one of the five surnames and seven prominent families. Since the Han Dynasty, their ancestors have been famous for their Confucianism. During the Northern Wei Dynasty, they were one of the four prominent families of "Lu, Cui, Li and Wang", and were known as the "leading family of the Northern State", ranking alongside the Cui family of Qinghe.
Lu Jinghong slightly raised his chin, seemingly nodding, and casually clasped his hands in a fist salute to the envious crowd, but out of the corner of his eye, he secretly glanced at the back of the young lady Song.
However, Song Zhian did not turn around, nor did she stop walking. Perhaps she did not hear, and had already gone to the kitchen.
Madam Li glanced at her young and inexperienced son and offered a word of advice:
“Keep an eye on it a little longer, the tea will get cold. Who said they were thirsty?”
“Staring? Staring at what? I’m just curious about the local customs and clothing. Cold tea is the only way to quench my thirst. I’m too hot-tempered, so please have some hot tea, Mother.”
Lu Jinghong casually picked up the teapot and added some more tea for the woman.
Madam Li didn't expose him. She turned around and found that the dull young man was staring at them without blinking.
She asked, "What's wrong? Do you have any requests?"
Upon hearing the words "Lu family of Fanyang," Ouyang Rong suddenly asked:
"May I ask what you two are looking for?"
Madam Li pondered for a moment:
"It's an ancestral grave. To be honest, Jinghong and I have come here to pay respects to our ancestors. If you feel that visiting graves is unlucky, you can..."
Ouyang Rong immediately put the silver into his pocket and nodded very seriously:
"Young Master Lu and Madam Li, right? As long as the money is enough, we'll set off tomorrow morning."
(End of this chapter)
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