Uncle Jiu and the others were overjoyed to receive my five hundred yuan red packet.
It was like money falling from the sky for them.
For the three money-grubbing elders.
All they lost was a mentally challenged younger brother they never cared about.
If it weren't for Uncle Liu receiving a monthly disability subsidy,
And the town and village sending oil, salt, grains, and rice during festivals and holidays, they might not have even glanced at Uncle Liu.
Now, they just wanted to use this matter to squeeze more money out of Uncle Liu.
At this moment, who cared what I wanted to do?
So, after tucking away the red packet, they continued to sit aside and eat melon seeds.
Third Grandpa, the village chief, showed no particular expression.
He sat on a stool, occasionally checking the time.
I walked slowly to Uncle Liu's side and squatted down:
"Uncle Liu!"
Upon hearing my voice, Uncle Liu looked up joyfully:
"Hehehe, Ze Wa, Ze Wa, you're back..."
"Mmm, I'm back. Looking at ants?"
"The ants, the ants have moved, look, look..."
Saying that, Uncle Liu pointed at the ants with a beaming smile.
Although he was simple-minded, there was childlike innocence in his eyes.
His face was full of happiness and joy.
He had no idea that he had already been decided upon by Third Grandpa, the village chief.
His second elder brother and fifth elder brother had sold him.
Tonight, he would be sent to the mountains to marry and await death.
I chatted with him with a smile.
"Uncle Liu, do you know why you're wearing these clothes today?"
Uncle Liu looked as if he understood but didn't:
"To get a wife, to go to the mountains to get a wife, hehehe..."
"Yes. But Uncle Liu, after we go into the mountains today, you must listen to me.
If you do everything I say, how about I treat you to sugar-coated haws?"
"Sugar-coated haws, okay, okay..."
Uncle Liu's expectant look was as easy to please as a four or five-year-old child.
"Mmm, then first, put this in your clothes pocket.
This is the paper for sugar-coated haws, you must keep it a secret.
If others see it, they will snatch it away."
I lowered my voice and continued.
At the same time, I took out a talisman from my pocket.
And handed it to Uncle Liu.
This was a talisman to ward off evil.
I wanted Uncle Liu to carry it with him to protect his life.
Uncle Liu smiled, wanting to pinky swear with me.
After sorting things out with Uncle Liu, I walked towards Uncle Jiu and the others.
They were still cracking melon seeds.
Seeing me approach, they even smiled and invited me to sit.
I sat down accordingly.
Uncle Jiu and Uncle Wu started asking me about my work in the city and why my salary was so high.
I smiled and said I sold idols and amulets in the city.
I said city folks just liked these things.
After hearing this, the three of them praised me incessantly for being able to earn money.
I took the opportunity to start inquiring about Uncle Liu and that Huang Pizi Old Immortal.
"Uncle Jiu, Aunt Four, Uncle Wu.
I heard my Grandma say that Uncle Liu's arranged marriage is to a Huang Da Xian?"
Upon hearing my question, the three of them nodded.
Aunt Four spoke with utmost seriousness:
"Mmm, Huang Da Xian.
The mountains around here are all under her control.
Sending your Uncle Liu over is considered a fortune.
Even if he goes down there, he won't be a bachelor."
"Fourth Sister, what are you saying that's unlucky.
That's called ascension, Uncle Liu is going to receive blessings!"
Uncle Jiu retorted to Aunt Four.
Uncle Wu also chimed in repeatedly:
"Yes, yes, receive blessings.
Uncle Liu is muddle-headed all day.
If he gets married into the family, he'll be an immortal son-in-law.
We are all accumulating virtue."
"..."
The three of them spoke in turns.
I felt quite awkward listening. If this were blessings,
Why didn't you all marry into the family yourselves?
Why not let your own sons marry into the family?
They were just bullying Uncle Liu because he was foolish, sending him for a living sacrifice to that old demoness.
Then they found an excuse, calling it an arranged marriage, serving an immortal.
I didn't expose them, just continued to gather information.
Finally, Third Grandpa, the village chief, heard our idle chat and walked over.
Seeing that I didn't quite understand the whole story,
He began to recount the events.
He said that about a month ago, people in the village kept encountering Huang Pizi.
Finally, the village's poultry started dying off one after another.
Until a week ago.
That Huang Pizi directly went to the village chief's house.
The village chief's family all encountered the Huang Pizi.
That Huang Pizi directly stood up from the ground, then sat on the village chief's table.
And even spoke human words.
Saying that this area was the Huang Pizi's territory.
We never offered sacrifices for years, and she was very angry.
Therefore, she killed all the poultry in our village.
And demanded that the village prepare sacrifices, large and small, gold and silver.
Otherwise, she would not let the village have peace.
Because of this matter, the village chief even called a village meeting.
And told the villagers living in the village about this matter.
He even invited a feng shui master from the neighboring village to take a look.
As a result, that feng shui master took a few glances, wandered into the mountains, and then ran away.
Saying that this matter was beyond his capability.
He told us, Clear Water Village, to fend for ourselves.
Most of the villagers were elderly, and upon seeing this, they became even more panicked.
They all expressed their agreement.
They pooled their resources to offer sacrifices to the Old Immortal, to get through this.
After all, they had lived here their entire lives and didn't want to move.
Nor did they want to offend the Old Immortal in the mountains.
However, there were a few stubborn individuals in the village.
These were Grandpa Ma and Uncle Chen San, whom my grandma mentioned.
They ran to the mountain pass and cursed loudly.
The result was that within two days,
Several of them met with various accidents and met their end.
This event made the entire village even more fearful.
At the same time, that Huang Pizi, late at night, found Third Grandpa, the village chief, again.
Saying that the conditions had changed, and if the village wanted peace,
It would have to find an unmarried man.
To have a "peaceful marriage" with her daughter, to be a son-in-law married into the family in the mountains.
And also to offer dowry gifts, otherwise, she would retaliate against the entire village...