I Only Want to Lie Flat But Am Forced to Cultivate Immortality-Chapter 225 - 130: Recruitment Poster, Religious Ceremony_2

Chapter 225: Chapter 130: Recruitment Poster, Religious Ceremony_2

The donkey halted, panting heavily, evidently quite exhausted.

Looking at Sun Erzhuang, who had just gotten off the carriage, he was panting even harder than the donkey pulling the cart!

One may wonder how a person riding a cart could be more worn out than the donkey itself; someone unaware might even think he was the one pulling the cart!

A child without a mother—a long story to tell. Sun Erzhuang wiped the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve and said dejectedly, "A few days ago, while my mother was on the mountain for my father’s memorial, she encountered a fierce tiger and lost her life."

Sun Erzhuang couldn’t help but start to tear up, his eyes reddening as he said, "Fortunately, the mountain men shouted in time, scaring the vicious tiger away and leaving my mother’s body behind. Otherwise, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have recovered even a whole corpse."

"It’s hot nowadays, so I went into town to buy a coffin to send my mother on peacefully."

The gatekeeper was even more astonished: "I heard Granny Hua was a famous shaman, known for summoning the Tiger Immortal to assist people. How could she have been harmed by a vicious tiger?"

Sun Erzhuang didn’t know the specifics; with the person gone, there’s no point in pondering over it. That tiger wasn’t human; could he go ask the tiger, ’Why did you kill her?’

Only a fool would do such a thing!

The gatekeeper sighed and stepped aside, making way for Sun Erzhuang.

On the side, Xu Qing, who overheard their conversation, couldn’t help but perk up.

A shaman? He had never seen a corpse like that before.

Nor had he encountered a body killed by a tiger.

At that moment, Xu Qing’s curiosity was entirely piqued by Sun Erzhuang’s deceased mother.

Sun Erzhuang drove the donkey cart forward, and upon reaching Xu Qing, he involuntarily glanced at the carriage parked beside Xu Qing.

There was also a coffin on that carriage.

Sun Erzhuang felt inexplicably puzzled—how could bringing coffins together be so coincidental?

Xu Qing, seeing Sun Erzhuang about to leave, stepped forward and said, "Brother, please wait."

"Is there something?" Sun Erzhuang turned to look at Xu Qing.

"I see that you are planning to bring the coffin home?"

Sun Erzhuang nodded, thinking it would be rude not to reply, he glanced at the coffin behind Xu Qing.

"Are you also bringing the coffin?"

Xu Qing shook his head, "I’m not bringing the coffin; I’m a master of rituals, helping people with burial and soul redemption."

Sun Erzhuang sized up Xu Qing again and repeated his initial question: "Is there something?"

"I just heard that your mother was unfortunately killed by a tiger. The tiger’s mouth has ill fortune; those who perish by a tiger’s mouth often have their souls bound by the tiger, unable to leave..."

"I know some methods for summoning and redeeming souls. If you need it, I can perform a ritual for your mother."

Sun Erzhuang seemed somewhat moved but eventually shook his head and said, "I have only a few copper coins on me; even if I have the filial piety, I can’t afford the silver coins for the ritual."

"The deceased come first; wealth is an external matter. If you are sincere, I can do it for free."

"Is there really such a good deal?"

Suspicious, Sun Erzhuang looked at Xu Qing.

Beside them, the gatekeeper coughed lightly and chimed in, "This gentleman is indeed a master of funeral services, and as for the free offer..."

The gatekeeper briefly explained the flyer to Sun Erzhuang.

"Performing rituals on credit?"

Sun Erzhuang was puzzled, while Xu Qing nodded and said, "Business is done with people, there needs to be a human touch. I’ve been in this line of work for some time and have seen my fair share of life’s separations and farewells. I understand these are significant moments in one’s life. Whether I earn more or less, it doesn’t make much difference."

"Moreover, truly filial people generally have decent character and would likely repay the debt in the future..."

"Master Xu is indeed a good person!" the gatekeeper couldn’t help but praise.

Sun Erzhuang exhaled in relief, thought for a moment, and cupped his hands, "Then I will trouble you, Master Xu."

Xu Qing felt delighted inside; he didn’t expect to gain a new task while handling a burial!

After asking where Sun Erzhuang lived, Xu Qing nodded, "Allow me to first perform the ritual at Shixi Village. Once it’s done, I’ll come to your home."

Sun Erzhuang forced a smile on his discouraged face and again thanked Xu Qing.

Soon after Sun Erzhuang left with his donkey cart, Zhao Zhonghe and his nephew returned from patrolling the street.

"Chief Zhao, did you see where the lightning struck?" The gatekeeper soldiers surrounded Zhao Zhonghe.

"Two miles north of Tanggu Bridge, isn’t there an old elm tree there? The lightning struck that tree. Fortunately, no one was hurt. I wonder what that tree did to deserve this..."

Zhao Zhonghe waved his hand at the crowd, "Alright! I have other matters to attend to; I won’t waste time chatting with you all."

As the three resumed their journey, the gatekeeper soldiers began to gossip.

They talked about supernatural things like the spirit of elm trees and ghosts possessing big trees, all fanciful tales.

On the main road, Zhao Zhonghe was delayed by returning to town. Now seeing the late hour, he urged the carriage to speed up.

The carriage had not gone far when Xu Qing spotted Sun Erzhuang’s donkey cart again.

The chubby man sat at the front of the donkey cart, causing the donkey to suffer. Not only did it have to pull several hundred pounds of coffin, but also carry two hundred pounds of its owner.

With a total weight of five to six hundred pounds, it was surprising the donkey cart could move at all!

Xu Qing greeted the chubby man before the three of them bypassed the donkey cart and headed straight for Shixi Village.

Zhao Zhonghe inquired with the villagers and learned the location of Shi Quan’s ancestral grave.

The villagers were different from those in towns.

When someone in the village dies, even neighbors will chip in to help, while such gestures are rarely seen in bustling places like Prefecture City or County Town.

Learning Shi Quan had returned for burial, some villagers took the lead with ropes and poles to assist.

Xu Qing didn’t refuse; having voluntary help after a person’s death was a fortunate sign.

It showed that even in death, someone still remembered the deceased.

According to later sayings, when a person dies, there are three stages of death—biological death, social death, and memory death.

Those helping carry the coffin often have a strong impression of the deceased, and their memories might be the last things the deceased leaves behind in this world.

"Raise the coffin—"

With the coffin lifted, Xu Qing instructed Zhao Zhonghe to shout the slogans.

That rough man’s voice was perfect for the task.

"Step aside for the coffin! Decked in gold atop, laid with silver below, so the Path to the Underworld may be smooth—"

Xu Qing scattered paper money along the way, while Zhao Zhonghe didn’t mind making a spectacle, shouting louder than the funeral house itself.

Slogans for raising spirits, walking, crossing bridges, and burying; once all was done, Xu Qing also performed some burning rites for Shi Quan’s grandfather nearby.

The old man was elderly; paper wives and concubines were unnecessary, so they burned paper houses, paper horses, and some paper money.

When everything was finally done, Zhao Zhonghe rubbed his numb cheeks and sighed, "This work is truly not for just anyone. I didn’t feel this tired even when I was hunting down bandits before!"

Zhao Yuan nodded in agreement, "Brother Xu is clearly a scholarly lad, born a scholar, yet he doesn’t despise this line of work. It’s truly commendable!"

Zhao Zhonghe grinned, "I used to think Shopkeeper Xu was somewhat eerie, not like a good person. Now I see it’s my fault. If I’ve ever offended Shopkeeper Xu, I hope Shopkeeper Xu won’t take it to heart."

Upon hearing their compliments, Xu Qing smiled and said, "Chief Zhao, rest assured. I wouldn’t bring past grievances into business. Even if Chief Zhao visits my shop, I wouldn’t hold grudges nor shortchange the offerings."

"..."

Was that a human remark? Zhao Zhonghe’s face darkened; he’d instinctively retort but swallowed the words back.

Indeed, those in the funeral business are ominous. Zhao Zhonghe decided to avoid such people in the future.

Returning to the main road, Xu Qing jumped off the carriage.

Zhao Zhonghe asked, Xu Qing responded:

"I have another ritual to perform. Chief Zhao, feel free to return on your own."

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