Chapter 382 - 117: Jia Family Village (Part 2)
...
Jia Family Village.
A village located at the edge of the mountain range, far from the bustling city, offers seclusion and tranquility, yet also lacks development.
It’s hard to imagine,
in the modern society of Xia Country, there are still a few residents living in villages with dirt houses rather than brick ones.
There’s electricity,
but no running water.
Every household still relies on old-fashioned hand pumps to draw water.
The sound of suona and drums fills the air, the mournful tune evokes the image of a flock of wild geese crying as they fly, heading to their demise.
"Geese landing on the sandbank!"
Fang Zheng squinted and looked up:
"Did someone in the village pass away?"
Geese landing on the sandbank, all birds facing the phoenix, grand funeral procession, ten kneels for parental grace... these tunes are commonly used in funerals.
The village is small.
The villagers should all be attending the funeral. As Fang Zheng walked along, he didn’t see many villagers and strolled leisurely to a small courtyard.
"Creak..."
The rusty hinge turned slowly, emitting a sharp, piercing sound, just as an elderly man in his sixties or seventies opened the door and walked out.
Seeing Fang Zheng at the door, the elder was taken aback.
"Greetings, elder."
Fang Zheng smiled faintly, cupped his hands in a Daoist salute, and said:
"Fang Zheng, a wandering member of the Celestial Master Dao, greets the gentleman!"
Since he intended to explore the transmission of magic, he couldn’t use an ordinary identity, and the highest authority in the Otherworld’s Daoist sect is undoubtedly the Celestial Master Dao.
Nobody here knows the truth or lies, so of course, he aims for the highest branch.
"Celestial Master Dao?" The elder looked puzzled, clearly unfamiliar with the name:
"You..."
"Are you looking for something?"
"Indeed, I have something to trouble you with." Fang Zheng nodded and pointed behind him:
"I came from the mountain range ahead and found a Four Spirits Land where ancestors of Jia Family Village are buried. I wish to inquire about the Feng Shui Master’s clues from that time."
"Four Spirits Land!" Hearing this, the elder’s expression changed drastically, and his eyes became extremely complex, trembling as he said:
"You recognize the Four Spirits Land?"
"Indeed, I do." Fang Zheng nodded:
"Does the elder understand its significance?"
"I..." The elder opened his mouth, looking pained:
"I know a little about it, but not much."
"I’d like to hear the details." Fang Zheng cupped his hands.
"Daoist."
The elder’s eyes moved slightly, suddenly asking:
"There are many people in the village, why did you come to ask me?"
"Hehe..." Fang Zheng straightened his back, revealing a strong build taller than the elder, glanced around and said:
"Jia Family Village itself forms a Feng Shui formation, and this small courtyard of yours seems unremarkable yet is the eye of the formation, surely inhabited by a master."
"A master?"
The elder shook his head, staring directly at Fang Zheng:
"Daoist, you are the true master!"
Understanding the Four Spirits Land and finding my small courtyard without a guide shows great ability, isn’t that the mark of a true master?
"Uncle!"
At this moment, a middle-aged man ran over from a distance, waving to the elder:
"The cremation van is coming back, it’s your turn to preside."
"Understood." The elder replied:
"I’ll be right there."
Then he turned, excitedly grabbing Fang Zheng’s sleeve, and said:
"Daoist, today I have to act as the Funeral Official. Please don’t leave in a hurry. Let’s talk in detail after the meal and the funeral."
"Alright."
Fang Zheng nodded:
"I won’t be a bother?"
"A guest is always welcome." The elder shook his head:
"With my old face here, no one dares to ask you to leave."
With that,
he led Fang Zheng towards the sound of the suona.
The so-called Funeral Official is the person presiding over the funeral. In some places, they are called Yin Yang Masters or Ritual Leaders; recently, some people call them Masters of Ceremony.
When someone passes away in a rural area, it is often the highly respected villagers who preside.
Evidently,
the elder is such a person.
"By the way."
As Fang Zheng proceeded, he said:
"May I know your name, elder?"
"My name is Jia Xiangshan." Elder Jia, with an excited expression:
"I’ve lived nearly a lifetime, and today I finally meet a true master. Daoist, please don’t leave in a hurry. I have questions to ask you."
"Certainly."
Fang Zheng nodded.
"Xiao Liu."
Arriving at the funeral site, Elder Jia called someone over and instructed:
"Take this Master Fang to my table, and don’t neglect him."
"Alright, Third Master." Xiao Liu, likely just over twenty years old, curiously guided Fang Zheng to a seat:
"Master Fang, you’re a new face!"
"Just passing by, grabbing a meal." Fang Zheng smiled and cupped his hands:
"Sorry for the intrusion."
"Ah!" Xiao Liu waved his hand:
"It’s just a meal, there’s nothing intrusive about it. With Third Master’s word, you could even stay in Jia Family Village without a problem."
Fang Zheng nodded.
It seems Elder Jia Xiangshan holds a high status in Jia Family Village.
Xiao Liu, with a bold personality and nonstop chatter, gave Fang Zheng some insight into the background of Jia Family Village.
Jia Family Village,
truly lives up to its name.
Most of the households in the village bear the surname Jia.
"Our Jia family was wealthy in the past. They say we were officials during the Republic era, but unfortunately, our luck ran out, and a few years later, the head was shot."
"Back then, the Jia family lived in the county town with many large courtyards. After a mountain accident, the family moved here to avoid trouble."
"Ah!"
He sighed:
"If you ask me, even now, with the society as it is, living in these remote mountains makes no sense. You could earn more in a month working anywhere else than you do here in a year."
"A bunch of old-fashioned people, refusing to move."
At this point, he paused, his eyes spinning around to ensure none of the ’old-fashioned people’ were nearby before he felt relieved.
"Daoist Fang, please don’t tell Third Master what I just said."
"Of course." Fang Zheng nodded with a smile and asked:
"But..."
"Why not move?"
"From what I know, local government policies provide assistance. Moving out makes it easier for kids to attend school and adults to find work."