Records of Strange People and Strange Events in the Old Mansion

Chapter 176 Secret
When Zhu Huan shouted, all the immortals were startled, including Red Boy and Little Dragon Girl. They stopped fighting at the same time, took back their magic weapons, and looked at Zhu Huan.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Keep fighting. Don't you all think you are great? Can you all be ranked first? Then fight to the death." Zhu Hu looked coldly at the "Eight Immortals of Taoism", Red Boy and Little Dragon Girl.

Red Boy and Little Dragon Girl were the first to react. They jumped back onto Zhu Hao's shoulders and said with a smile, "We didn't intend to compete for the first place, nor do we bother to compete with them for the first place." "That's right, the ranking is just a formality, especially the ranking of their 'Eight Taoist Immortals' is nothing more than a fabrication made up by Wu Yuantai at the old house on a whim."

"Hey, Xiao Longnu, you said that Wu Yuantai made up the ranking of the 'Eight Taoist Immortals' in the old house. Do you have any evidence?" Zhu Hu asked.

Xiao Long Nu hurriedly explained: "There is no evidence, no evidence, it's just hearsay, just hearsay."

"Little Dragon Girl, let me tell you, when dealing with people and doing things, it is important to base them on facts and never spread rumors. As immortals, shouldn't you adhere to this concept even more? Otherwise, are you qualified to become immortals? Also, didn't you all attain enlightenment and ascend to heaven in ancient times? You must be familiar with 'gentleness, kindness, courtesy, frugality, and humility' and 'benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, and trustworthiness', right? Have you all done them? I feel so ashamed for you." After Zhu Hu finished speaking, he looked around at the "Eight Immortals of Taoism" and saw that they all bowed their heads and kept silent. Without saying anything more, he went over to move the door plaque.

"Fairy, let me do it, let me do it." Tieguai Li went over to help.

Zhu Huan said: "Thank you, you are dedicated to helping the world and saving lives, you deserve to be ranked first among the 'Eight Immortals of Taoism'."

"Fairy, I'm sorry. I know I was wrong. I will restore the door plaque of the old house to its original appearance." Han Zhongli came over and waved his palm-leaf fan towards the bluestone. The four words "You Rong De Da" on the bluestone door plaque reappeared before his eyes.

Zhu Hu said to Han Zhongli: "As the 'Zhengyang Patriarch', you should act like a Patriarch. So, can you still be called a Patriarch if you care about ranking?"

"I'm really relieved, I'm relieved." Han Zhongli's face turned even redder.

Zhu Hu held up the bluestone door plaque with both hands and said loudly to the "Eight Taoist Immortals": "I know that each of you has unique skills and can be called extraordinary talents, but please take a good look at the door plaque of this old house, and never forget the principle of 'having tolerance and virtue'. Otherwise, no matter how talented you are, you will still be a stone in the cesspool in the end."

"Thank you for your guidance, Fairy." The "Eight Taoist Immortals" bowed to Zhu Huan together.

Zhu Huan picked up the door plaque with both hands and turned back to the old house.

"Fairy, please stay, fairy, please stay. I still have doubts in my heart and hope you can give me some advice." Lu Dongbin caught up with Zhu Huan.

Zhu Hu didn't stop and said calmly: "Are you worried that I will cancel the title of 'Tao Eight Immortals'? Don't worry, I can't write 'Journey to the East' in the old house again, but if you don't repent, I will write 'I am the Nine Immortals'."

"Fairy, what is the 'Pampering the Eight Immortals' that you mentioned?" Lan Caihe caught up and asked.

Zhu Hu replied: "'Eight Pet Immortals' are naturally my beloved pets. My eight dogs and eight badgers will sooner or later become 'Eight Dog Immortals' and 'Eight Badger Immortals', representing 'love, hate, affection, hatred, gathering, separation, parting, and reunion' and 'birth, aging, illness, death, loyalty, treachery, righteousness, and evil' respectively."

"That's very good, very good." A loud voice came from the south, and Goddess Guanyin came riding on a golden-haired lion. Zhu Hu hurriedly knelt down and saluted.

"Ouch, that hurts!" Zhu Hu opened his eyes and found himself falling off the chair, hitting his head on the corner of the table.

"If you want to sleep, go back to your room and sleep on the bed. How about that? You dozed off on the chair and got a big bloody bump, right?" Ma Yasha came over and helped Zhu Huan up.

Zhu Hu got up from the ground, rubbed his forehead, and asked Ma Yasha: "Where are grandpa and uncle?"

"They are worried." Ma Yasha saw blood oozing from Zhu Huan's forehead and went over to take out a small first aid box.

Zhu Hu sat back on the chair and asked Ma Yasha to apply medicine to her. After applying the medicine, she asked Ma Yasha, "Are grandpa and uncle worried about the door plaque of the old house?"

"That's right, how could these two old kids forget such an important thing? And you, I told you to prepare well, why did you still forget the door plaque? That is the eyes of the old house, the soul of the old house, the old house..." "Hey, hey, hey, are you still my mother? That careless Ma Yasha? You keep nagging like a bitter-mouthed woman." Zhu Hu interrupted Ma Yasha's nagging.

Ma Yasha said: "I am now Liu Ruyu, the mother of your brother Zhu Zhu." "Zhu Zhu, it would be better to just call him Zhu Zhu," Zhu Hu complained.

Ma Yasha was not angry, and asked Zhu Hu: "The old lady with the narrow mouth said that she wants to reopen the gate of the old house. Do you agree?"

"I agree and I disagree." Zhu Hu replied.

Ma Yasha applied the medicine to Zhu Huan, patted her on the back of the head, and scolded her, "What's your attitude? Are you still acting like a god here? Just answer directly, she is waiting to hear my question."

"As Zhu Hu, I agree. As the director of the Old House Museum, I disagree." Zhu Hu answered straightforwardly.

Ma Yasha smacked his lips and said, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, this is really on the right track, clearly distinguishing between public and private matters."

"Of course, starting from tomorrow, if you want to enter the old house, you will still need to buy a ticket." Zhu Hu held his head high and chest puffed out, looking like a lifelong curator.

Ma Yasha curled his lips and said, "Humph, you are so ruthless after becoming a lousy museum director. Are you still the Badger Immortal?"

"Stop! If you curse again, my Eight Immortals sister in heaven will come down to settle the score with you, hehe." Zhu Hu laughed.

Ma Yasha lowered his voice and asked Zhu Huan: "Do you really have a father and a mother in heaven?"

"Of course, if you don't want me, I will go find them immediately." Zhu Hu raised his head and answered loudly.

Ma Yasha hurriedly said, "No, no, no, we still want you. At least your brother hasn't grown up yet, and you are still the director."

"Just say it directly. It's still too early for me to go to heaven. Go and call grandpa and uncle over." Zhu Hu walked into the study.

Ma Yasha looked at Zhu Huan's back and responded loudly: "Yes, Director."

"Little guy, can't I deal with you?" Zhu Huan closed the door of the study, climbed up the wooden ladder, and took out the "Collection of Poems of Hanshanzi" from the top shelf.

"People in the three realms are stupid, and people in the six paths are confused. They are greedy for money and love lust, and their hearts are as evil as jackals. Hell is like an arrow, and extreme suffering is like a due. They spend their days and nights in a daze, and they can't tell the good from the bad. They don't know what's good and what's bad, just like pigs and sheep. They talk like wood and stone, and are jealous like crazy. They don't see their own faults, like pigs lying in a pen. They don't know how to pay their debts, but laugh at the cows pulling the mill."

Zhu Hu came to the Heavenly Palace reciting Han Shanzi's poems. The Jade Emperor asked Zhu Hu, "Jiu Xian, have you really attained enlightenment?"

"What does it mean to have complete enlightenment? Have you achieved complete enlightenment?" Zhu Huan asked the Jade Emperor.

The Jade Emperor pondered for a while, then laughed and said, "Life is like a spiritual practice, the road is long and arduous. As the Zen saying goes, 'The body is a bodhi tree, the mind is like a mirror. Wipe it frequently and do not let it accumulate dust.'" "Yes, you know Doctor Sanlu's poems and have read the Bodhi Gāthā. Will you still continue to search for it?" Zhu Huan asked the Jade Emperor.

The Jade Emperor replied: "Of course, only by keeping pace with the times and making the most of your youth can you create everlasting glory and enjoy endless beauty."

"Wow, you are worthy of being the Jade Emperor." Zhu Huan gave the Jade Emperor a thumbs up.

The Jade Emperor asked with a smile: "Couldn't it be the father of the Nine Immortals in heaven?"

"Of course." Zhu Hu replied.

The Jade Emperor said, "Then you should return to heaven. The Eight Immortals of Taoism have collectively gone to the Lord of Eight Caves to apologize. Han Zhongli, Lü Dongbin and others admit that they deliberately provoked you."

"Really?" Zhu Hu responded indifferently.

The Jade Emperor said: "The Lords of the Eight Upper Caves have always regarded you as their treasure. Now that they have learned the truth, they love you even more. Please send a message to me to express your apologies on my behalf."

"Then please tell them that I am flattered, but I am a hopeless person. It would be fine if I could become a fairy in heaven, but I'd rather continue to be an indestructible cockroach on earth." Zhu Hu's face was as calm as water.

The Jade Emperor was stunned for a moment, and asked Zhu Huan: "You came up here on your own initiative today, are you trying to show your attitude?"

"That's right, but I also came to tell you in person that I have already announced that my dog ​​and badger will become the new 'Eight Immortals'." Zhu Hu said bluntly.

The Jade Emperor practices Tai Chi: "This? This should be decided by the Laojuns in the upper eight caves."

"Didn't you just say that they originally regarded me as their treasure? Now they dote on me even more, and I regard my dogs and badgers as my treasures. They are my beloved pets, so please tell them to be more philanthropic and regard my dogs and badgers as their treasures as well. Dote on them as you do on me. Love the whole family." The red badger said playfully and loudly.

The Jade Emperor frowned and asked Zhu Huan: "You know that as a mortal, you will grow old, get sick and die. Sooner or later, you will die from illness or various accidents. After death, if you have done evil things or behaved improperly in your life, you will be thrown into the eighteen levels of hell."

"Everyone has to die one day. Of course I know that. As for whether one will be thrown into the eighteen levels of hell? That is something after death. I am too lazy to care about it, and there is no need to care about it. After death, one knows that everything is empty." Zhu Huan still spoke loudly and playfully.

The Jade Emperor wanted to ask Zhu Huan again, but a deep voice came from the Upper Eight Caves: "The sky and earth are dust-free, but the mountains and rivers have shadows. The Eight Dog Immortals and the Eight Badger Immortals will be on the list soon. You, Nine Immortals, take care of yourself."

"Thank you, Laojun, for your help. The nine immortals are eternally grateful." Zhu Huan straightened his clothes and knelt on the clouds, bowed three times and kowtowed nine times.

The clouds were billowing, the music of stringed instruments was melodious, and the Queen Mother came with great grace to help Zhu Huan up. Behind her followed eight beautiful fairies, who were Zhu Huan's eight sisters in heaven.

"A bright moon over the stream, a clear breeze on your pillow. Jiuxian, your mother actually also longs for the beautiful life on earth, and your eight sisters are also fascinated by it, but we don't have your courage. Since you have made up your mind, then live a good life on earth. If you encounter difficulties and need help from your mother or your sisters, just light nine incense sticks under the big camphor tree, and I will send your sisters to help you. If necessary, your father and I will come." The Queen Mother was out of character, holding Zhu Huan's hands and talking endlessly, looking reluctant to leave.

Zhu Hu was a little uncomfortable and wanted to leave immediately, but when she heard Queen Mother say that if she encountered difficulties, she could light nine incense sticks under the big camphor tree, she was shocked. She remembered that her Eight Immortals sister had also told her to light incense under the big camphor tree, how many sticks should she light? Why should she light them? She forgot, so she asked Queen Mother: "Light incense under the big camphor tree? Light nine sticks? Is there any particularity?"

"Of course there are rules. The nine incense sticks form a chain of nine incense sticks, which connect the thirty-three heavens and the thirty-three earths. They are used to invite the Jade Emperor to invite the Ten Kings of Hell. In other words, they are your signal to us for help. Remember, don't light it unless it is absolutely necessary. Only when you are in the world where no one else can turn to you and human power can no longer save the situation, can you go under the big camphor tree to light the nine incense sticks. Also, you must wash your hands before lighting the incense, and you must light the incense with candles, and never use a lighter directly." The Queen Mother no longer had the domineering attitude of the Queen Mother in the past. Instead, she was like an old lady who was not at home in the village, seeing her son off to work in the provincial capital, and she chattered endlessly.

Zhu Huan originally hated such nagging, but for some reason? Listening to the Queen Mother's repeated instructions, Zhu Huan's throat and nose became dry, his eyes became moist, and he choked up and said to the Queen Mother: "Mother, I know, you have to take good care of yourself in heaven."

"Jiuxian, mother will be fine. You must remember, when you go to light incense under the big camphor tree, the nine incense sticks must be arranged in a three by three matrix. Otherwise it will be counterproductive, and may even lead to eternal damnation." The Queen Mother held Zhu Huan's hands tightly.

Zhu Hu asked Queen Mother Wang: "What does the three-by-three matrix arrangement mean?"

"Nine incense sticks should be grouped in groups of three and inserted in three rows under the big camphor tree. Do not pinch them into a bunch and insert them casually or insert them in a row. You must remember this." The Queen Mother was afraid that Zhu Huan would make a mistake.

Zhu Hu thought, what's the point of the Shinto? I can't possibly order it, but I still nodded repeatedly, saying, "Mom, I remember, I remember."

"Jiuxian, after you go back this time, we will never be able to see each other again. You must take good care of yourself." Queen Mother shed tears.

Zhu Hu hurriedly advised: "Mother, this cannot be our farewell. As long as you are well, we will definitely meet again." After persuading her, Zhu Hu hardened her heart and returned to the mortal world. She couldn't let the Queen Mother cry, because that would cause floods in the mortal world.

"What is the most lamentable thing in the world? It is all the sins of the three paths. Don't learn from the guest under the Baiyun Rock, a cold robe is the life. In autumn, let the leaves fall in the forest, and in spring, let your tree bloom. I sleep in the three realms and have nothing to do. The bright moon and the fresh wind are my home." Putting back the "Han Shanzi Poetry Collection", Zhu Hu climbed down the wooden ladder, thinking as he climbed, why was the dream just now so interesting? How could the Queen Mother, the head of the female fairies in the heaven, become so nagging? How could she not be able to see me? Humph, she must be a drama queen like Lu Huan.

"Fairy, are you in there?" "Your grandfather and I are here to report to you." The voices of Uncle Liu and Ruber came from outside the study door.

"Oh, I'm here." Zhu Hu answered and opened the door to leave the study. Seeing Uncle Liu and Lu Bo standing aside with their heads down, like two children who had done something wrong, he couldn't help but ridicule them, "Why? Why don't you punish yourself and come here to report?"

"Fairy, we've searched everywhere we could but we just can't find the door plaque." "Yes, yes, we've searched everywhere we could, several times." Uncle Liu and Lu Bo lowered their heads even lower, almost touching their lapels.

Zhu Hu scolded angrily: "What about the places that cannot be found? Do you need to look for the places that can be found? Eggs are fine, one-armed and crossed-legged are fine. I tell you, you two old kids are not attentive to the old house, not enthusiastic, not sincere, not honest, not loyal, and not infatuated."

"No, no, no, we care about the old house. We are enthusiastic and sincere about it." "Yes, yes, yes, we are sincere, loyal and infatuated with the old house." Uncle Liu and Lu Bo shook their heads and nodded.

Zhu Hu glared, "I think you two are just talking nonsense, and you only care about drinking. I wanted to wait until you find the door plaque, and then I would open a jar of the fine wine bestowed by Zhu Yuanzhang to reward you. But now, the fine wine bestowed by the emperor has completely bid farewell to you and become an exhibit of the Wine Culture Museum of the Old House Museum."

"Ah? This, this, this..." "Oh, then, then, then..." Uncle Liu and Lu Bo shook their heads and sighed, but they could do nothing about it.

Zhu Huan walked out of the main house of the old house, and Uncle Liu and Lu Bo followed closely.

"What are you two doing following me? I am a fairy, I don't eat the fireworks of this world, I don't have any farts to pick up." Zhu Hao cursed and glanced at Liu Shu and Lu Bo. Seeing that the two of them were following him timidly and at a loss, he said, "Go, get the fan that Zhu Yuanzhang gave to Mr. Zhu's ancestors."

"Yes." "Okay." Uncle Liu and Lu Bo hurried to the backyard. Zhu Shanzi's original objects were still displayed in Zhu Shanzi's original house. Now all the rooms in the old house have become exhibition halls, displaying the treasures of the old house.

Uncle Liu and Uncle Lu were muttering as they walked: "Why is she calling him Mr. Zhu again?" "Is she trying to clear Zhu Shanzi's name?" "..."

By the time Uncle Liu and Lu Bo brought over the iron fan bestowed by the emperor, Zhu Huan had already opened the main gate of the old house.

After Zhu Hu took the iron fan and fanned it three times above the main door of the old house, Uncle Liu and Lu Bo were stunned.