Clay statues of gods in rural temples are not difficult to make.
First use straw, wheat straw or thatch to tie them up.
Combined with the wooden frame, it can be made into a standing posture, a majestic sitting alone, or various postures with different expressions.
Just build a simple framework first.
Then make peace with the mud.
Use mud to slowly apply it upwards to create a rough shape.
After the shape is ready, use a shovel and trowel to carve the image of the gods and Buddhas you want.
After the images of gods and Buddhas are carved, the clay sculptures of the gods are dried and fixed, and then the gods are painted.
After painting, add swords, magic weapons, cloaks, robes, bamboo baskets, crutches, red silk and other things that fit the image of gods and Buddhas.
This is considered complete.
In general, temple repairs and statue replacement are just the process, and it is not that difficult.
But as a belief in the soil and water of the Chinese people, especially in the countryside, it is very important.
It takes some virtuous and promising people in the village to preside over a ceremony.
Come and burn the old idols together, and then consecrate the new ones.
The local people describe this ceremony as very simple.
In just one sentence, welcome new gods and send old gods to heaven.
This God is not like the Kitchen God who goes to heaven to announce good news.
Instead, when presiding over the ceremony, they burn incense and say something similar to the words of perfect merit.
Just like the Land Master this time.
After worshiping and burning the idols, the Earth God went to heaven and went to work somewhere else for promotion next year.
This is the vision of the common people. It is usually placed before the end of the year as a good thing before the year, and is used to combine several good things to celebrate the New Year.
I think that the coming year will be smooth and everything will go as planned.
As to why changing idols is considered a good thing?
In a word, if the local economy is bad, who has the money to replace the idols?
That must mean people have money in their pockets.
Only then will you have the leisure time to welcome the new God.
But.
To be honest, it’s the 26th of the twelfth lunar month this year, so it’s a bit late to do this.
So Wang Laishun came over.
Chen Ling had this question.
Wang Laishun laughed when he heard this: "What your child said, do you think your uncle is a fool? He must have finished everything before calling you! If now, at this time, he has just started to make the kind of clay sculptures of gods, then It's definitely too late.
Not to mention the weather, whether it will be sunny or not, whether it is possible to dry the idol.
Let’s just say this is the final step of painting.
I can’t even make it in time for New Year’s Eve.
There will be no incense on New Year's Eve.
On the first day of the new year, I couldn’t make a big offering to Grandpa Land.
How can the new land grandfather bless us then? ”
Chen Ling was a little confused after hearing this. He didn't see any movement when he went out in the morning.
The statue is so big, it must be more than two meters tall.
If you do it in advance, it will be seen no matter what.
"So? The statue has been prepared in advance? Why didn't I see it?"
"Oh, it was just transported here. Just like the stone statue of Prince Turtle in the reservoir, Grandpa Tutu this time is also carved from stone."
Wang Laishun patted him on the shoulder: "You don't know this. You are not allowed to be a village official, nor do you want to be a party secretary. You say you find this trivial matter troublesome.
Then no one will tell you such things.
This matter was discussed by the county leaders when Secretary Zhang came last time.
He asked me if there was anything I needed help with?
Then I definitely have to mention it. ”
It will be difficult for Wang Laishun, the branch secretary, to do this year.
After the second son was beaten violently by Chen Ling, he himself was on the side of favoring the second son.
Afterwards, he was wronged because Chen Ling made him unable to come to power and lost the prestige of the party secretary.
There is a saying that as our country goes down, interpersonal relationships become more complicated, and people have more petty thoughts.
It's ridiculous for city people to think that a village party secretary has any prestige.
But my ancestors lived in a village.
Sometimes this thing is useful.
In autumn, the new boss in the county wants to build a big screen wall, saying that he wants to cut down the trees in front of the house and occupy some of the villagers' homesteads.
Wasn't Wang Laishun beaten?
Afterwards, two professors from the village, plus Zheng Shaoqiu from Hong Kong and Taiwan, agreed to add some other glory to the county and stop staring at the old turtle all the time, so the matter was over.
Once this incident came out, Wang Laishun was afraid that the villagers would make things difficult for him again.
He would seek help from the county for everything, such as the renovation of the Tutu Temple, the replacement of new statues, the renovation of the old stage, and the renovation and optimization of the village school.
When you need to complain, complain, and when you need to ask for help, do it with dignity.
Anyway, he now understands that Chen Ling was a fool in the past, but now he still has a very upright mind and does not deal with the situation or the person.
There is no resentment towards him.
Then he let go, and he also complained to Chen Ling and explained clearly the situation at home.
As long as Chen Ling doesn't mess with him.
He was afraid of nothing in the village.
And the county is not afraid either.
There are Chen Ling, Zhao Yubao and so many other living ancestors in the village.
If anything happens, a phone call will be made to the city or province.
He was not afraid of any kind of over-level notification.
Therefore, the county attaches great importance to all kinds of things needed in the village. They said they would deliver the statues before the year, so they sent a truck to transport them directly.
"So that's it. I was still thinking that I would just save a few bucks and not go. But it turned out that everything was done. It seems that I have to go."
Chen Ling sighed. He had to make tofu in the afternoon.
Wang Laishun's eyes lit up when he heard this: "Okay, our village brigade will also be renovated and renovated next year. Fugui, you can collect the money there."
"..."
Chen Ling was speechless for a moment: "What's the matter, the Tutu Temple and the county are in charge, but the county doesn't care about this trivial matter of the brigade?"
The renovation team is none of his business.
He would rather give more money to renovate the village school.
"I don't know if I care, I haven't had time to mention it yet."
Wang Laishun shook his head. He had made too many demands for the county, and the brigade had to take its time.
"But the person you mentioned said that from now on, our village will no longer need to paint Ji Sheng slogans, and I don't think we will need to paint any other promotional slogans, so that we can retain the original character of a mountain village."
They talked and walked out onto the dirt road.
The afternoon sun is warm.
The winter weather is indeed warm and dry today.
If it weren’t for the short days, it would be colder at night and in the morning on the mountain.
This year's wheat seedlings, even if they are harmed by the villagers, can hardly suppress their vigorous growth.
Passed the big slope to the north.
I saw people, dogs, a tractor, and two donkey carts in the green wheat fields.
What is placed on the tractor is the statue of the Earth God that Wang Laishun mentioned.
But this time it was wrapped in red cloth and fixed to the back of the tractor with ropes.
At this time, I had just had lunch.
The little children in the village led the village dogs to have fun in the wheat fields.
The dogs from Chen Ling's family were also included.
"The cannons are set off, everyone, start shooting!"
A gun salute is fired when the idol is taken down from the tractor.
There are men who blow away these little devils.
It's a big deal.
In the clear sky, two planes passed by together, pulling out long tails of clouds.
The little kids were so excited all of a sudden.
Jumping and shouting.
"Get off the plane quickly, wait until I get on it and then fly..."
"Stop the plane and take me on it to Bei'an..."
"Uncle Fugui, look at the planes in the sky. When will you buy a plane?"
Seeing Chen Ling approaching, they all rushed over and shouted. "Buy it after the Chinese New Year. I will build an airport for you at the old stage. Then we will go to Beigan every day."
Chen Ling laughed and boasted casually.
"Okay, I knew it, Uncle Fugui, you can do it."
"My grandpa said that if Uncle Fugui is rich, he will make a lot of money. Now that he has a car, he will definitely be able to buy a plane soon. My mother still doesn't believe it. Now Uncle Fugui has said that he will buy it next year.
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You can’t go wrong, I will definitely buy it next year. ”
The little melon boys have always believed in Chen Ling's words and believed whatever he said.
That's called blind worship.
"Wealth is here. Can you tell me how to arrange it today?"
"What arrangements can I make? You only care about welcoming the new god and come to do it as soon as you hit the forehead. Have you prepared the tributes that are due? It's the time of the Chinese New Year. Let alone the three animals, at least there must be steamed buns and pancakes made from all kinds of grains, right? .
Otherwise, how could Grandpa Land bless us with a good harvest? ”
When Chen Ling arrived at the scene, he was even more speechless. Originally, the deer farm had just stopped working, and the villagers had not prepared anything for the New Year. This was happening again in the village.
The arrangements are too tight.
"That's true. According to wealth, if you want to have a lively event, you have to prepare everything."
Wang Laishun frowned and said quickly: "This is my fault. I didn't think carefully about it."
He was also impatient.
He said he was not afraid of anything.
But deep down, I was somewhat afraid of being discussed by the villagers.
I want to get things done quickly.
Otherwise, everyone will be even busier in two days.
If you go to the village to call people, you will get scolded even more.
Now that Chen Ling said this, Wang Laishun breathed a sigh of relief on the spot.
"Otherwise, I would have to call you Fugui over."
He glanced at the villagers with a smile in his eyes:
"Since you said so, Fugui, of course we have to go live.
This year in our village, the villagers have been working hard for a year, and they have been working until the 25th of the twelfth lunar month. It is time to make it more lively. ”
Wang Laishun can talk.
Being a branch secretary for so many years is not for nothing.
Everyone is willing to say so.
"It's better to make it lively. My family is busy during the day, so I'll have an early dinner in the evening and try to replace the statues with new ones before New Year's Eve."
"You're right, let's make it more lively this year. We can't just wait for the rich and powerful to contribute. This year we also have to show our respect."
They have made money this year and have become more assertive in their speech.
Although it still hurts to ask them to pay.
However, every household can still afford to pay for the tribute of grains and cereals.
This thing mainly depends on whether you use it carefully or not.
Sometimes it really doesn’t have much to do with money.
"That's just right. I'm going to grind tofu this afternoon. I've made the fried tofu for the tribute."
Chen Ling spoke first, so that everyone did not have to prepare to repeat himself.
"Everyone is discussing what each family will do. When it is ready, we will send the old land grandfather to heaven."
Chen Ling said and pointed at the two men transporting the statue: "Now put the stone statue here covered with red cloth to save the two masters from waiting here."
"Listen to Fugui, arrange things in order, so as not to waste time in chaos. The statues used this year are so good, we can't let them go to waste."
"Okay."
"That's right."
A group of people responded, and then worked together to lift the stone statue with wood and gently set it down.
After putting them away, Chen Ling stuffed two packs of cigarettes into the two people who presented the stone statues before sending them away.
Here, as long as conditions permit, every household will grind a large pot of tofu after the end of the year.
You can deep-fry tofu fruit, tofu strips, tofu triangles, make balls of tofu and minced meat, deep-fry into tofu balls, deep-fry crispy meat, and then put them in the warehouse to eat every day during the New Year.
In the past few years, it was relatively rare to have the conditions to make a large pot of tofu.
There are two families, or even three or four families, who share the big pot.
This year there are conditions.
However, the weather during the Chinese New Year this year is too warm.
I’ve done too much and can’t let it go.
No one can put tofu in a small water tower to refrigerate it for a short period of time like Chen Ling.
So there is nothing wrong with Chen Ling being in charge of tofu.
At this time in the countryside, the pace of everything is very slow.
For example, making tofu requires a whole afternoon of work.
Even if you go to the county tofu shop and spend money to make it.
This is also true.
Chen Ling thought about rushing back to herd the wild geese at dusk.
Because there are many newly married young people in the village this year, and every household has basically made money, this year's fireworks are bought in baskets.
In the countryside, having more of these things is a happy event.
This resulted in children running around setting off firecrackers, and young people looking for places to bomb everywhere by the river.
Explode in the water, dig holes by the water and explode, play with big and small pieces like crazy.
The wild geese had long since been scared away.
The red-crowned cranes in Yamanaka Lake were so frightened that they did not dare to go to the edge of the village.
Not to mention the wild geese at home.
Chen Ling originally thought that geese have better night vision than ordinary birds and can fly in the sky at night.
I want to try releasing them at dusk and let Erbaldi take them flying around.
I didn’t expect that everyone would be so promiscuous this year as the Chinese New Year is approaching.
"Uncle Fugui, my family has left sticky rice noodles. My mother and my grandma made fried dumplings. Try it. Is it delicious? They say they are waiting to use this to pay tribute to the new land master."
In the evening, when Chen Ling's family was steaming tofu, Liu Nier ran over with a group of children, each carrying a basket full of food.
"Uncle Fugui, my family makes buckwheat black steamed buns."
"Uncle and grandpa, my family is a grain farm."
……
"Good guy, bring me all this, I can't eat it."
Chen Ling's head was swollen when he saw it, "Besides, if these are not waiting to be used, why are they all brought to me?"
"My grandpa asked you to try it first. Didn't you say you liked eating steamed buns the year before last?" Xiao Sen said innocently.
This made Chen Ling a little speechless.
He had just returned to this era, and he still had some memories of the bitter and sweet in his heart.
In fact, cereals are good, but if you eat them for three days in a row, you will immediately get tired of them.
It can eat up people.
Nothing else, it's too dry and scratches the throat.
Where can white flour steamed buns taste better?
After all, it has to be refined food.
"Uncle is talking about the corn tortillas and steamed buns stuck in the pot. This is simply steamed buns. I still like to eat spring vegetable steamed buns."
Chen Ling forcefully defended himself: "But if you eat this for me, how can you pay tribute in the future?"
Tributes to gods and Buddhas need to be new.
After eating it, it will definitely not be used.
"My mother said it's okay, just use the scale to weigh it again. It's new. As long as we don't cook it again, the gods won't blame us and we can eat it."
Liu Nier said: "My family learned from your uncle's craftsmanship. You can try it."
"Okay, okay, then each of you put down two."
Chen Ling couldn't stop the children's enthusiasm: "Put it down and don't leave yet. I'll start frying the tofu later. Each of you can take a few pieces back."
"Okay, hey, uncle, where did Ruirui go? I didn't see him all day today."
The little ones knew that Uncle Fugui loved them. When they were happy, they suddenly remembered that they had not seen the little bear at home for a day.
"He's in the county town. Don't worry about him. We just caught those little weasels. They were having fun. I went to see them when I came back just now. He didn't want to go home either.
Anyway, if he wants to come back, there will be someone to send him. ”
……
Chen Ling is big-hearted, but Wang Susu, a mother, is not.
Obviously there are two younger ones around him, but he just can't worry about the eldest one, Ruirui.
There's nothing you can do about it, no matter how old the boss is, he's still not two years old.
While Chen Ling was frying tofu, Wang Susu came to the kitchen seven or eight times, constantly saying, 'It's so dark, it's better to bring Ruirui back', 'The baby is too young and has never slept outside. What should I do if I catch a cold at night? '... all kinds of chatter. (End of chapter)