Chapter 75: Grand Sacrificial Ceremony

After those previous events, most of the villagers believed in the Mountain God's sayings, although they had never seen the Mountain God in person, but after all, the incident of Xiaocao's mother being brought back to life was real and could not be explained by scientific means.

Even those who did not believe, faced with this natural disaster and with no other recourse, could only pray to the Mountain God for blessings.

After all, compared to the vague and distant Heavenly Lord, the Mountain God seemed much closer to them.

Under the organization of the Village Chief, Longyuan Village quickly held a large-scale sacrificial ceremony, with all villagers mobilized and gathering in the Mountain God's temple at the Mountain Foot.

"This grand sacrifice is not for us personally, but for everyone, to pray to the Mountain God for rain, so the expenses from slaughtering pigs and cattle and sheep for the offering will be shared by all—any objections?"

"No problem!"

The crowd replied in a loud voice, showing no reluctance, for as the Village Chief said, this was for their own benefit.

If it could rain, easing the drought and allowing crops to grow, then losing a few pigs, cattle, and sheep would be nothing in comparison.

Under the Village Chief's mobilization, all villagers worked together in unity.

Villager Lao Zhang's family, being relatively wealthy, contributed a large fat pig they had raised for several years, weighing over 400 catties, which only several strong young men in the village could lift.

Besides that, there were fresh chicken, duck, fish and meat, cured fish and meat, delicately purchased snacks from the town, dried fruits and other good things.

The men were busy slaughtering, while the women handled the cooking, each performing their respective duties.

Soon the fragrance spread far and wide, stirring up everyone's appetite.

Even the usual gluttonous children did not clamor for meat, seemingly knowing it was to be offered to the Mountain God Grandfather; they behaved well without fuss.

The children, lacking strength, just carried some firewood to help out.

Longyuan Village was filled with cooking smoke, lively and bustling, comparable to New Year's festivities.

Every household looked forward to this ritual, hoping it would ease the recent drought; thus the event carried their beautiful wishes.

The grassroots cadres sent from the township down to the countryside, seeing this lively scene, thought the villagers were welcoming them with great fanfare.

These days of high temperature and drought have been taken very seriously by both urban and rural governments, after all, such weather easily triggers fires.

Therefore, many grassroots personnel were dispatched to the surrounding villages to publicize fire prevention knowledge and so on.

"Ah, the villagers are too enthusiastic; I'd say there's really no need to make such a big fuss—how embarrassing for me."

Although the leading Cadre Zheng said that, the smile at the corners of his mouth was almost splitting his face.

However, after waiting half a day, not a single villager came over to receive them; passing villagers looked hurried, as if something major were happening.

Cadre Zheng's smile instantly stiffened on his face; clearly they had previously notified the Village Chief that they would arrive today, yet now there was nobody at the village entrance.

"Did we notify the Village Chief of Longyuan Village? Maybe they didn't receive the message?"

"We did notify them, and judging by the situation, they must know we're coming."

"Perhaps something delayed them?"

"Maybe so; otherwise let's go find the Village Chief."

The group had no choice but to go to the Village Chief's residence.

The Village Chief had also studied before, his cultural level being not bad; at this moment he was writing the sacrificial text, and on the red paper the calligraphy actually looked quite proper.

Hearing the knock, he finally reacted; opening the door, what came into view was Cadre Zheng and his entourage.

The Village Chief had also met Cadre Zheng before; seeing their arrival, he then remembered this matter and hastily patted his head.

"Cadre Zheng, I'm really sorry—look at my useless memory; with so many things going on, I've been busy and forgotten."

The Village Chief hurriedly apologized.

Cadre Zheng waved his hand, indicating it didn't matter, and tentatively asked: "Village Chief, I see the village is quite lively—what major event is happening?"

"We are holding a sacrificial ceremony to pray to the Mountain God for rain!"

Cadre Zheng and his entourage were momentarily speechless, finally realizing the village's liveliness was not because of their arrival.

Pray to the Mountain God for rain?

What era is this, that they still believe in such things?

Cadre Zheng could not help but say: "Village Chief, these are all feudal superstitions; whether it rains or not is decided by weather factors, having nothing to do with the Mountain God."

Cadre Zheng and his companions merely regarded the villagers as panicking and seeking any cure, but this approach is not advisable.

"The government also knows your difficulties and is thinking of solutions; perhaps it will rain in a few days—why go to all the trouble of staging a Mountain God sacrifice?"

The Village Chief, however, shook his head inscrutably: "Cadre Zheng, you don't understand—this Mountain God is truly miraculous."

He vividly recounted the incident of Hu Xiaocao and her mother, upon which Cadre Zheng and his group snorted even more derisively.

"These are just accidents; how could they be as miraculous as you claim?"

After all, they themselves had never seen it, and besides, the villagers have embellished the story—who knows what the truth really is?

Therefore, Cadre Zheng and his companions do not believe these tales.

They wanted to dissuade them, but no matter whether it was the Village Chief or other villagers, everyone seemed dead set on holding the sacrifice.

"Cadre Zheng, I appreciate your good intentions, but this sacrificial event was decided upon by everyone; no matter what, it will go ahead."

Having come to this point, Cadre Zheng and his entourage could say no more; they had no recourse but to let it proceed.

After all, they are merely grassroots cadres, not law enforcement, and the villagers are only holding a ritual, not committing any socially harmful act.

For such matters they could only offer verbal dissuasion.

"Never mind, never mind, do as you wish; just remember the weather is dry—don't start a fire."

Cadre Zheng felt displeased; after giving a few reminders, he did not want to linger in the village and quickly headed to the next one.

Fortunately, no such outrageous incident occurred in the other villages.

"You say Longyuan Village is really too outrageous; the Village Chief, having received some education, how could he do something so unreliable, and those villagers just followed along to join the fun."

Along the way, Cadre Zheng nagged on, constantly complaining.

"Whether it's the Village Chief or the villagers, they seem to have been fed a love potion—utterly unreasonable."

Those beside him hurriedly comforted: "Never mind, it's not worth quibbling over; just do your own duties well."

Cadre Zheng couldn't help but sigh: "Although that's the case, I don't know when this ignorant atmosphere can be completely eradicated."

On the other side, the arrival of Zheng Ganbu and the others did not disturb the enthusiasm of the people of Longyuan Village.

After the village head saw them off, he continued writing his own memorial text.

The sacrificial rites were in full swing.

In front of the Mountain God's temple, offerings were piled high; the large pig's head was especially conspicuous, and it was even tied with a big red flower.

Besides that, there were chicken, duck, fish and meat, dried fruit and pastries, cured fish and cured meat, etc.; these were the best things the villagers could produce within their means.

(End of chapter)