Chapter 83 Inspiration from the Kong Ming Lantern in Qiu Society
One makes two.
Chen Yulou specially decorated the remaining two pairs of paper armor with eyes.
That Guanshan Taibao never thought until his death that more than half of the four paper puppets were able to take advantage of him.
But... I have to say it.
The difference between a dotted paper puppet and an eyeless paper puppet is worlds apart.
If I have to describe it.
Putting the finishing touches on a paper puppet is like a white ape opening its eyes.
Although he didn't really come back to life, there was a connection with him that was almost like a mental connection.
No need to chant witchcraft, you can drive the paper man with just one thought.
I would have known that Paper Armor Technique is one of the most amazing magic techniques mastered by Guanshan Taibao.
But the effect was somewhat beyond Chen Yulou’s expectations.
It is different from the Nuqing Chicken.
After all, there is a high probability that there will be no second head anywhere in the world.
But paper puppets are different, they can be made by cutting paper.
Even according to his inference, if one can master the paper armor technique to the extreme, the puppets he can control can be more than just paper figures.
Paper cows, paper horses, gatehouses and houses.
Just like the folk paper-making people.
It’s just that what they pierced was only dead things.
But after practicing the paper armor technique, he was able to give them "life".
This kind of witchcraft is almost the same as the Taoist method of spreading beans and forming soldiers, and is even more subtle and magical.
After playing with it for a while.
Chen Yulou then put away the three pairs of paper armors.
After several days of retreat, the harvest has been very good.
He has already roughly understood the mausoleum genealogy.
The rest needs to be slowly fed with experience.
Observe the mountains and fixate the stars, look for the dragon and spot the caves. Wherever there are ancient tombs and great collections, the geomantic omen must be different from other places.
The next step is on the way to Zhelong Mountain.
Say less than a month or two away.
He can just walk and read until he understands it.
As for the paper armor technique, I have now reached the threshold. I am just waiting to take it a step further and try to cut paper into shadows by myself.
“I don’t know what time it is outside.”
Simply meditated and breathed out.
After a big week.
Chen Yulou felt that all his tiredness had been swept away.
He stood up and looked around. The underground palace was still the same as before. The lights were brightly lit regardless of day or night. He had been practicing meditation and could hardly feel the passage of time at all.
Muttered something.
He no longer hesitated.
Cross the stone steps with your hands behind your back.
Not long after, wait for him to push open the door of the machine.
When I walked out of the underground palace for the first time, before I could take a breath of fresh air, I heard the sound of gongs and drums coming from outside the building.
“What’s going on?”
Chen Yulou was stunned.
Before the retreat, I didn’t seem to have heard of anyone in Zhuangzi accepting a bride.
But now the sound sounds like a troupe has been invited.
Even if an ordinary villager gets married, at most they just find a few people to have fun with.
Frowning, he took a few steps forward and opened the door.
Crash——
The dazzling sunlight rushed in all at once.
At the same time, the noise became louder and louder.
Chen Yulou narrowed his eyes for a moment, then walked out with his hands behind his back as if nothing was wrong.
However.
Wait until he leaves for a moment.
Only I realized that it was not what I thought.
The inner city is still deserted and quiet, with only lanterns hanging on the trees by the lake, but the outer city is decorated with lanterns and colorful, and it is very lively.
In the distance, he even heard the sound of a troupe singing on stage.
"Master!"
"The shopkeeper!"
"The boss."
Walking along the way, there were clerks, dealers and servants from time to time. Greet him respectfully.
Chen Yulou nodded casually in response.
Wait until he reaches the outer city.
It was then discovered that almost all the dealers had gathered together.
A high platform rises from the ground.
The outside is surrounded by three floors inside and three floors outside, and the water is blocked.
There were even villagers from nearby villages who came to listen to the performance and join in the fun. They all stood on tiptoes, their faces full of joy and excitement, and they listened in rapt attention to the rhythm.
There are not many entertainment activities these days.
Plus the difficult times.
It’s rare to see a big show, so why miss it?
“Master.”
Chen Yulou also stopped and listened for a moment.
It seems to be the traditional Hunan opera here.
While wondering whether it was the Pipa Chronicle or the Moon Worship Chronicle, a familiar voice suddenly came.
"Uncle Yu, what day is it so busy today?"
Chen Yulou was not surprised to see it was Uncle Yu, he just pointed at the stage and asked.
"It's social day."
"The autumn harvest season is coming soon. Every year, Zhuangzi invites theaters from the county to perform on stage. This tradition has been continued since the old shopkeeper's meeting."< br>
Uncle Yu was surprised that he asked this question.
But he still replied seriously.
On such a happy day, even his deeply wrinkled face could not help but reveal a faint smile.
"Oh, yes, look at my memory, I've been almost dizzy during this period of time."
I was keenly aware of the flash of doubt in Uncle Yu's eyes.
Chen Yulou slapped his forehead and said helplessly.
Social day.
I forgot about it.
This is not any solar term.
But it is integrated from the tradition of Spring Society and Autumn Festival.
Similar celebrations are held every year before spring planting and autumn harvest.
It’s just that ordinary people in villages don’t have extra spare money. At most, they can only have a good meal. The children hang up firecrackers and light firecrackers to have a simple fun.
Chenjiazhuang is different.
Several generations have carved out thousands of acres of fertile farmland here.
There are one to two hundred households renting farmland from the Chen family alone.
In addition, the old shopkeeper has always wanted the Chen family to slowly go down the road of passing down poems and books from generation to generation.
So we pay special attention to this.
Every year not only a theater troupe is invited, but the entire village is decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations. At night, dragon boats, lion dances and lanterns are also held, which is no less impressive than during the Chinese New Year.
See him remember it.
Uncle Yu also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It’s not that he suspected anything.
I'm just worried that the young master will often lock himself in the building for several days, and whether he will fall into autism after a long time.
“Master, are you hungry?”
"I'll ask the kitchen to prepare the food."
Chen Yulou waved his hand, seeing that it was getting dark, and it would be okay to have dinner together then.
"Uncle Yu, what are the activities tonight?"
Wow -
He just asked.
Suddenly, the singing seemed to have ended on the stage, and applause and cheers could be heard overwhelmingly.
Later.
The guys who had been ready early lit the fireworks.
For a time, the sky was filled with colorful lights.
Seeing this scene, the children who came to watch the fun suddenly cheered.
They have little interest in babbling dramas.
What we are looking forward to are lanterns, lion dance and dragon boats.
Chen Yulou was a little infected by the atmosphere, with a smile on his face.
Since Society Day is to pray for a good harvest.
He is about to go to Zhelong Mountain.
As the Chen family's livelihood, it shouldn't be a problem to pray for a good harvest, right?
Wait until the fireworks dissipate.
Night is gradually falling.
However, the villagers had no intention of leaving.
On the contrary, everyone is looking forward to it.
Seeing this, Chen Yulou also subconsciously looked in the direction where they were looking.
Only the surface of the lake.
The lights drifted by in the water.
At the same time, countless lanterns rise in the wind, and rounds of bright moons seem to rise in the night sky.
The moment I saw it.
Everyone immediately burst out in celebration like a mountain.
Some people even knelt on the ground, praying devoutly for good weather and good health.
It is different from them.
Chen Yulou's eyes suddenly lit up, and there was a beating under his chest.
“Kongming Lantern!”
Those lights floating in mid-air.
He suddenly felt like he had a sudden inspiration. During these few days of seclusion, apart from practicing mausoleum genealogy and paper armor techniques, he never forgot about Zhelong Mountain in his spare time.
The only problem that is holding him back now.
That’s how to accurately deliver gunpowder into the mountains.
But at this moment...
He thought of it!
Isn’t the Kongming Lantern, which has been passed down for more than a thousand years, just a ready-made hot air balloon?
As long as the Kongming Lantern is big enough.
Let it float into the sky above the tomb of King Xian with gunpowder.
The key is that this thing is simple and easy to carry.
Even if it doesn’t work once.
There are countless opportunities.
"Master, this is tonight's event."
"There will be a lion dance later..."
Uncle Yu on the side looked into the distance with a smile.
I didn’t notice anything strange about Chen Yulou.
"Not bad."
"The lanterns are nice."
Chen Yulou laughed loudly and said with a hint.
How can it be bad?
The problem that had troubled him for five or six days suddenly became enlightened. This feeling was countless times more refreshing than having a can of iced drink on a hot day.
"Uncle Yu, who made those sky lanterns?"
He couldn't care less about the lion and dragon dances now.
Just asked impatiently.
"Huh?"
Uncle Yu was obviously stunned for a moment.
I don’t know why he suddenly asked this.
But he did not hesitate and replied quickly.
“There are all the old people in the village. Our ancestors were born making paper lanterns. His family is responsible for the lanterns every year.”
"Okay, take me to meet him."
Chen Yulou nodded.
He had no impression of Lao Qitou.
After all, there are too many people in Zhuangzi, and it is impossible to know everyone.
“…Okay.”
He sounded quite anxious.
Uncle Yu thought something had happened, so he immediately did not dare to delay and led Chen Yulou all the way to the outer city.
In the outer city, Chen Yulou didn’t come very often.
Especially in the past six months.
Either practice in Guanyun Tower, Changsheng Mountain, or in other places.
I really don’t know much about this small town that is attached to the inner city of the Chen family.
But Uncle Yu is different.
He can call everyone's name accurately.
Tell us their identities before coming to Chenjiazhuang.
It’s clear what he does and how many people are in his family.
This is an ability that no one else can replace.
After turning left and right in the alley for a while.
Uncle Yu finally stopped.
“Master, this is it.”
Chen Yulou looked up and saw that it was a small courtyard, not much different from other places.
But at a glance.
The small courtyard is filled with lanterns, lanterns and woven bamboo strips.
There is almost no place to stay.
"Old Qitou, the young master is here to see you."
Uncle Yu was really like a fish in water, passing through the lanterns on the ground without any hindrance.
Walked behind an old man with white hair.
At this moment, he is sitting on a bamboo chair, holding a bamboo knife to do things.
The bamboo in his hand was like magic.
With a few strokes of the knife horizontally and vertically, a bamboo as thick as a wrist can be turned into tiny bamboo strips.
His ears don’t seem to work well.
Uncle Yu patted him on the shoulder, then came to his side and shouted loudly before Lao Qitou reacted.
When I turned around and saw the figure in a long gown with a gentle expression.
The whole person was obviously at a loss.
“I’ve met... I’ve met the young master.”
Call your hands into fists and salute.
It was Chen Yulou who had quick eyesight and quick hands to hold him up.
He is already quite old, let alone sixty or seventy years old. If he is asked to bow down, isn’t this a loss of life?
"Lao Qitou, now that the Republic of China has begun, Zhuangzi no longer wants to be like the previous dynasty."
"Young Master is a generous man, so you don't have to be too restrained."
< br>Seeing Lao Qitou's fear, Uncle Yu couldn't help but laugh.
The old man who was in Zhuangzi many years ago is fine.
Those who have only entered the village in the past two years regard Chen Yulou as a god.
After all, if Zhuangzi hadn’t taken them in, they would have starved to death in such troubled times.
Especially renting and cultivating the Chen family’s fields.
The rent is 10% lower than outside.
Lao Qitou has been in the village for a few years. His family rented six or seven acres of paddy fields, and his three sons were busy in the fields all day long. He was old and could not work in the fields, so he picked up the ancestral craftsmanship again.
But this was the first time he saw the young master.
In the past, I could only see him riding into the city from a distance.
How can I not feel terrified?
"Old Uncle Qi, I came here today because I have nothing else to do. I just wanted to ask you if you can make a bigger Kongming Lantern?"
Chen Yulou asked warmly.
"Big?"
"I don't know how big the young master wants, but I have done it before."
I saw that he was asking about the Kongming Lantern, which is for eating by yourself. Lao Qitou felt a lot more at ease with his craftsmanship.
“It’s so big that you can carry three to five kilograms of stuff into the sky.”
Chen Yulou thought about it for a while.
To break the feng shui of King Xian’s Tomb, at least a slightly larger explosion is needed.
Collect as much strong gunpowder as possible when the time comes.
Half a pound of words.
That should be enough.
"Three kilograms of things go to heaven?"
Lao Qi was stunned.
He used to put up lamps for wealthy families in the city.
But it is only the size of a bamboo sieve at most.
I have never seen anything like this before.
However, he did not dare to hesitate, he just pondered for a moment, then bowed his body and said.
"Master, I dare not hide it from you. I have never done it before, but I can give it a try."
"Okay, old Uncle Qi, you can do it with peace of mind. . ”
When he heard this, a smile appeared on Chen Yulou’s face.
He casually took out a piece of ocean from his pocket and stuffed it into his hand.
"This is the deposit."
"When you finish it, there will be rewards."
"This...how can this be done? Master Chen, you can take our family to live here." I can’t thank you enough. How can I ask for your money?”
Look at the shining silver in my hand.
Lao Qitou shook his head in fear.
Just tell me you can't ask for money.
But Chen Yulou had turned around, leaving only one sentence in the distance.
"Old Uncle Qi, just take it if it's given to you. If you feel bad about it, try to make the Kongming Lantern better."
"It's best if it can bear a weight of ten to eight kilograms. ”
“Not to mention a piece of ocean, even a small yellow croaker is worth it”
Lao Qi raised his head and saw that the figures of Master Chen and Uncle Yu were almost disappearing at the gate.
His legs and feet are not very convenient.
There is no way to catch up.
I could only hold the piece of ocean and stand at the door in a daze, suddenly feeling like I was dreaming.
Until the three sons heard the news and rushed back.
He just woke up from a dream.
"Third brother, you are tired these days and watch the fields. Boss, you two stay at home to help."
"You must not be careless about what the young master has told you."
The other side.
Uncle Yu followed Chen Yulou all the way out of the small courtyard.
Although my heart is full of doubts.
But he never asked even a single word.
This has been his rule of survival for decades in the Chen family.
What the young master wants, he just needs to do his best to achieve it instead of questioning it.
“By the way, Uncle Yu, have you delivered all the materials Shopkeeper Li needs in the past few days?”
Chen Yulou was extremely satisfied with his reaction.
The two of them had a tacit understanding and did not mention the Kongming Lantern.
"Sent."
"The secret gold brought back by the guys who went to Hanyang, as well as the box you told me, young master, were all sent to Shijun Mountain."
"In addition, shopkeeper Li has given me a message, saying that if the earth fire is strong, it can be done in ten days!"
(End of this chapter)