Lord of the Desert

Chapter 112
With a shout, the ceremony began immediately.

A ball of molten iron was scooped up from the steel drum and thrown away, and the "flower stick" in the shape of an iron beat followed tacitly.

Snapped!
The streets were suddenly lit up.

At the same moment, there seemed to be thousands of golden epiphyllum blooming.

The light illuminates people's faces and outlines their smiles.

Withering follows closely after blooming.

The exhausted iron flowers scattered in all directions, first forming a golden rain, then transferring heat to the world, and then disappearing into the big curtain.

"Oh……"

The glory burns out, and the audience sighs in disappointment.

Then, the second bouquet of iron flowers happened to be in full bloom.

Under the greenhouse, the first pair of blacksmiths passed the center line, and the latter pair had already followed.

The [-]-degree iron juice was blown away by the flower stick in turn, and clumps passed through the greenhouse, igniting the fuel bundled on the wooden beams.

Light is like a flying dragon dancing, fire is born from iron.

In the sound of crackling iron, countless crystallizations of celebration and happiness fell on the ground together with the embers of iron filings.

"Brother Fan, the longest pole is called the old pole."

There was a lot of voices, and Cui Yutang had to put his head next to Hong Fan's ear to communicate.

"The firecrackers hanging on the top of the pole are the head of the lottery. If it is ignited by someone's iron flower, it is a lottery, which represents the best luck in the coming year!"

Hong Fan listened to the introduction with relish and nodded with a smile.

Another heavy star rain fell, he stretched out his palm, and was receiving a few iron seeds that were still warm.

"Every year's blacksmithing costs, the money and people are all paid by our Cui family."

Cui Yutang said again, his face was full of pride.

"The first is to add excitement to Jinhai;"

"The second is to pray for prosperity in the coming year;"

"The third is to promote the business at home..."

The first round of iron flower performances ended successfully.

The bare-chested blacksmiths stopped, exhaled white gas, and stretched their waists to recover their strength.

Just when the public opinion cooled down a little, Cui Erye came on stage again.

"Everyone, after today's round, Zulong didn't allow our guys from the Cui family to win."

He shook his head and said, but there was no disappointment on his face.

"I guess maybe the luck is not with them, so why not ask someone else to try?"

All of a sudden, everyone raised their hands excitedly, wanting to volunteer.

However, Second Master Cui didn't look at them, but only looked at a certain place.

It's his nephew.

Cui Yutang quickly grabbed Hong Fan's shoulder and pushed him forward.

"Let us Jinhai Xingjun try it!"

he said loudly.

As soon as this remark came out, no one argued anymore, they just applauded and cheered.

Hong Fan naturally realized that this was deliberately arranged by the Cui family.

But how can you refuse under the kindness?

"Jinhai Hong family, Hong Fan!"

He responded loudly, strode to the middle of the street, and took the flower stick.

Under the octagonal shed, the most experienced blacksmith came up and threw molten iron for him.

But how can a three-foot-high long pole miss with the exquisiteness and strength of a master of the penetrating realm?

One shot.

The meteor is like a waterfall, rushing up and hitting the top of the pole.

The firecrackers were immediately ignited and crackled.

"It's a lottery, it's a lottery!"

Taohong Liulu was the first to applaud, her hands were flushed.

All the blacksmiths gathered around to make more gold rain.

The two dragon lanterns that had been waiting for a long time also came up, walked through the rain, swam and danced around the shed and Hong Fan in the shed.

"The Zulong has responded, the lottery has fallen!"

"The second young master of the Hong family has won the prize!"

Countless cheers filled the streets, rushed into the sky, and ignited the night sky.

Just in time, the sound of ringing bells came from the Bell and Drum Tower in the distance.

The time officially entered the 27th year from the 28th year of Zhenghe.

The crowd became more and more excited.

Whether it's applause, cheers, or laughter, everything is connected together and merged into the wind, bringing the joy of the floating world all the way to the sky.

Under the fiery trees and silver flowers, Aunt Liu watched the young master standing in the center of everyone's sight, accepting the blessing of the whole city.

"Ma'am, ma'am, did you see that?"

She held Tang Daguo's arm tightly, and she shed tears with a smile.

······
Day two.

In the 28th year of Zhenghe, the first day of the Lunar New Year.

The ritual of repaying the book is the most important thing in the temple.

The Hong family is a rich family in Jinhai, and the most important thing on the first day of the new year is naturally to open a shrine to worship their ancestors.

Compared with other ordinary clansmen, Hong Fan came to the ancestral hall early in the morning to prepare.

He will play the role of assistant priest in this ancestral ceremony.

This is the first time in two lifetimes.

Hong Sheng, as always, was the officiant grandson.

On more than ten red square tables in front of the shrine, the five animals are lined up one by one.

Rice, tea, wine, cakes, paper gifts, etc. are filled with the rest of the seats.

On both sides of the courtyard of the ancestral hall, there are whole pigs and whole goats held up on shelves, all of which have been drained of blood, and every hair has been plucked clean.

The red candle is high fever, and the couplet is newly hung.

It was nearing noon, and the hour was approaching.

All the 15-year-old males in the Hong family are neatly dressed and lined up outside the hall.

"The hour has come."

Hong Pan and Hong Cheng, who were dressed in formal attire and were in charge of "communication and guidance", looked at each other and said.

The "Li Sheng" Hong Ping and Hong An, who were in charge of cooperating with each other, beat drums and blew the chime respectively.

With the sound of drums, there was movement outside the door.

The niche door has to be opened by the person with the highest seniority in the whole clan.

At the age of 82, Hong Shan, who was on crutches, supported his uncle Hong Fei, walked forward tremblingly, and opened the door that had been lubricated in advance.

Seeing this, Hong Pan yelled out of luck: "The ancestral sacrifice begins!"

At this time, firecrackers were fired, drums and music were loud.

After the three-way drum, everyone has entered the temple.

Inside the hall, there was silence.

"Please ask the chief priest and deacon to come forward and give a towel to wash your head."

Hong Pan said loudly.

Hong Sheng and Hong Fan came out immediately.

Hong Ping and Hong An hurried over in small steps, the former was holding a bronze lavatory filled with clear water, and the latter was holding a lacquer plate with a towel in it.

After the symbolic cleansing of hands and face, Hongcheng led all descendants to offer incense, candles and silk.

After that is the core of the sacrificial offering - the three offerings.

First gift.

Hong Sheng offered wine and kowtowed.

Ya gift.

Recommended by Hong Fan, kneel down and kowtow.

Final gift.

Hong Jian read the sacrificial text aloud.

Burn incense and curl up, recite loudly.

"Building ancestral temples, worshiping the ancestors, ordering the order, offering sacrifices in the Spring and Autumn, recommending steamed dishes, and fulfilling the intention of the descendants to repay the original..."

"The 28th year of Zhenghe, the first day of the first month."

"If your descendants are successful, you should sue your ancestors."

"No. 20 Hong Jian, the eighth-generation descendant, aged 47, has the Qi against the innate realm, and is respected as the number one in Jinhai."

"No. 20 Hong Sheng, the eldest son of the ninth generation, aged 21, is at the peak of his eight veins, and his cultivation is the best in the contemporary era."

"No. 20 Hong Fan, the descendant of the ninth generation, is eighteen years old, in charge of the Dragon Giving Star, and his fame overwhelms his peers."

"In the 27th year of Zhenghe, in December, the Hong family united with other surnames to send troops to Hongduo Mountain..."

The sacrificial oration is very long, detailing all the major events that have happened to the Hong family over the past year, and it is very impressive.

Hong Fan knelt in the first row and listened quietly, feeling a rare peace from the solemnity.

For a moment, he felt that the ancestral hall crowded with hundreds of people seemed to be a whole.

Not only people, not only memorial tablets, but also the entire land and buildings, all become one, sharing breath and destiny.

The three gifts are over.

Hong Li walked to the front in a long robe, and delivered a speech to all descendants on behalf of his ancestors.

"Tell your children and grandchildren, keep upright and loyal;

Be filial, diligent and thrifty;
Inheriting the past and ushering in the future, Guangzu Yaozong;
Don't live up to your promises, start and end. "

At noon, the sacrifice ends.

The elders divided the two holy animals into several hundred parts and distributed one part to each participant.

It's called "sweet meat".

Hong Fan changed into his uniform and left the ancestral hall with his biggest piece of meat.

The sun was shining brightly outside, making him squint his eyes.

The Hong Mansion used to be big, cold, and winding.

But today he suddenly returned to Asahi Courtyard after only walking for a short while.

(End of this chapter)