Chapter 80: The Ghost Mask

The more Wang Qi Zhi thought about it, the more he felt it wasn't secure.

No, he had to think of a way to completely cut off the path for this group of people...

He rolled his eyes: "You even understand Sanskrit?"

Lin Sicheng hurriedly patched things up: "I just read a little bit in books!"

"Heh!"

Wang Qi Zhi gave a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "Find a day when you're free to come to Beijing with me and your aunt!"

Lin Sicheng was suddenly solemn: "Ah?"

"Ah what ah, just go to meet the family!"

Which family, the family of your father-in-law?

Lin Sicheng immediately stopped making a sound.

Fearing he would be nervous and find an excuse not to go later, Wang Qi Zhi changed the subject: "It's almost eleven-thirty, is there anything good to eat around here?"

"Turn a corner and you're at Hui People Street!"

"Oh, so close?"

Wang Qi Zhi pressed his face against the window, peering out through the glass.

Sure enough, he saw the Drum Tower at a glance.

Having not been here for many years, Wang Qi Zhi really didn't recognize the way well. But he knew: past the Drum Tower was the Bell Tower, and Ye Anning's company was right next door at the Bell Tower Restaurant.

"It's just on the way, let's go see Ye Anning, so she doesn't say this uncle of hers doesn't care about her!"

Lin Sicheng nodded and turned the steering wheel.

The Bell Tower Restaurant was a branch of the Xi'an Restaurant, specializing in business receptions. The annex building was rented out to the public, but the rent was not typically cheap.

However, for Poly, this was at most a light drizzle, so even though they only set up an office, they still rented an entire floor.

Having called ahead, Ye Anning was waiting in the lobby; seeing Lin Sicheng, she first gave a soft smile.

"Little Uncle, where have you two been?"

"Nowhere special, we came specifically to see you!"

"Huh?"

"Huh!"

Ye Anning pursed her lips, "Perfect, I'll treat you to a meal. Lin Sicheng, what do you want to eat?"

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment: "The Shaanxi restaurant next to the Bell Tower is pretty good: Gourd Chicken, beef tripe with tofu skin, Old Shaanxi three-delicacy seafood, and ice-flower pan-fried dumplings are all good..."

It would have been fine if he hadn't said anything, but as soon as he did, Ye Anning couldn't stop swallowing her saliva: there wasn't a single thing Lin Sicheng mentioned that she didn't love to eat.

Her Adam's apple bobbed once, and she licked her lips: "Let's add a Steamed Basin, and it would be best to have two Old Braised Pig Head Meat sandwiches..."

Isn't that a coincidence?

Lin Sicheng had been thinking of saying that too, but was interrupted by Ye Anning.

He looked at Wang Qi Zhi again: "Teacher, what would you like to eat?"

Wang Qi Zhi let out a "heh": You two have already decided, and only now come to ask me?

Just as he was about to say, let's add a fish-lamb delicacy and Steamed Pork with Rice Flour, Ye Anning clenched her little fist and waved it: "Let's go!"

Saying they would go, they went; it was only a few steps away, so they didn't drive.

The two foodies chatted more and more enthusiastically, and along the way, they never left the topic of food: one said the meatballs at the second and fourth houses weren't as chewy as the third house's, and the other said the steamed rice cake at Pangzi's place was the best. It was just that there were too many people, and no matter when you went, you had to queue.

Wang Qi Zhi drooled while secretly cursing: Do you know why Ye Anning insists on clinging to Shaanxi and won't leave?

This is just a big gluttonous girl.

Great, now there's one more?

Walking and talking, they passed the Bell Tower and arrived at Yisu Street.

The explosive sound of opera singing came from afar, making the eardrums itch. All kinds of delicacies were dazzling, and the aroma was pungent.

Along the street, there were also many shops selling ethnic handicrafts, whether Hui or Mongolian, Manchu or Tibetan.

It wasn't time to get off work yet, but there were many people, mostly tourists, and the three of them could only patiently follow the flow.

As they walked, Ye Anning stopped and looked at a shop: "Little Uncle, what god is this?"

Finally remembered that there's an uncle following behind you two?

With a huff, Wang Qi Zhi looked up: a shop with very ethnic characteristics, and behind the glass display window hung a cloth painting:

The main color scheme was black, blue, and red, and the god patterns were numerous and complex, almost filling the entire painting. In the center was a three-faced deity with countless hands.

Looking at the appearance and layout of the cloth painting, it looked a bit like a Tibetan thangka, but as for what god it was, Wang Qi Zhi really didn't know.

He gave a wink, and Lin Sicheng understood in a second.

"This is Wase Angba, one of the five main deities of the Yongzhong Bell Bell Bon."

Wang Qi Zhi and Ye Anning looked at each other, their eyes flashing with a confused yet clear light.

If separated, they would certainly recognize every character, but put together... what was Lin Sicheng talking about?

"Bon Religion, Tibetan?"

Ye Anning looked at the shop entrance: two young women were wearing embroidered white robes and felt hats with long feathers inserted.

They had woven belts around their waists and silver collars around their necks.

At first glance, they looked like Mongolians, and a bit like the Yi people.

"You could also say Tibetan, but there are differences!"

Lin Sicheng nodded, "These are the Baima Tibetan from Hanzhong, evolved from the Di-Qiang. Sima Qian's 'Records of the Grand Historian: Account of the Southwest Barbarians':

West of Shu, from Ranmang (an ethnic minority anciently distributed in the Maowen area of Sichuan) northeastward, the rulers are counted in the tens, with the Baima being the largest, all of the Di type... that's talking about the Baima Tribe."

"They even established a country during the Three Kingdoms period, named Chouchi, with the capital in Qingshui, Gansu... At that time, Long County and Feng County in Baoji, and Liuba and Lueyang in Hanzhong were all under their jurisdiction... It wasn't until the Northern Zhou Dynasty that the country was destroyed."

Because they have lived by farming for years at the intersection of Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces, they have integrated some folk customs of the Tibetan people, and most of them believe in the Tibetan Bon Religion, so after the founding of the country, they were classified as Tibetan, commonly known as Baima Tibetan.

But in fact, in terms of living customs, beliefs, and even culture and language, they have very large differences from the Tibetan people... including within their own tribe, most call themselves the Baima Tribe..."

Lin Sicheng spoke eloquently, and the two young women opened their eyes wide, staring straight at him.

Perhaps it was because they heard the previous phrase "Wase Angba," or perhaps it was the first time they had seen a guest who understood their ethnic culture so well.

Of course, it could also be that Lin Sicheng was good-looking and young. The two young women muttered a few words, turned around and went into the shop, and each came out holding a felt hat.

Made by rolling, with flowers around the brim and colorful feathers inserted into the top, they were pure handicrafts, both exquisite and beautiful.

Their Mandarin was not very standard, but they smiled very sweetly: "A gift for our honorable guest!"

Ye Anning was incredibly happy, said thank you, and hurriedly took it and put it on her head.

Lin Sicheng, however, did not move; he bent down to let the tall young woman help him put the felt hat on his head. He then stroked his chest and said a sentence in a foreign tongue.

He was speaking the Baima language, and the general meaning was, may Dunba Xinrao (the founder of the Bon Religion, like Sakyamuni of Buddhism) bless you.

The two young women were stunned for a moment, looking very surprised.

Subsequently, the tall young woman went back into the shop and brought out a mask.

It was wood-carved and painted with colorful lacquer, with a ghostly face and fangs, fierce and mighty.

Lin Sicheng's expression was somewhat solemn, and just as he was about to refuse, the tall young woman bowed and then stood on her tiptoes.

With no other choice, Lin Sicheng could only lower his head to let the young woman help him put on the mask.

Then, the two young women stared at him without moving, their eyes sparkling with longing.

Lin Sicheng felt very helpless; after thinking for a moment, he extended his index finger to touch the lips of the mask, then lightly tapped the foreheads of the two young women: "Om Ma Zhe Mo Ye Sa Lei De!"

Suddenly, light welled up in their dark and deep almond eyes, and a mist-like vapor rose within their pupils. Their willow-leaf eyebrows creased slightly at the center, and their pink lips moved silently, like the chanting of pilgrims.

Ye Anning looked curious and was just about to speak when Wang Qi Zhi gave her a look, signaling her not to move.

Lin Sicheng also did not move; after about three minutes, when the two young women finished their chanting, he took off the mask. Holding it in his palms, he bowed:

"Thank you both, goodbye!"

The two young women looked solemn, placed their right hands over their chests, and bowed deeply.