Chapter 937: Chapter 931: Sakura’s Matter_1
There is a legend related to the stove sacrifice. It is said that the stove spirit was originally a common man nad Zhang Sheng. He was initially prosperous, but after marrying, he squandered his wealth on wine and won, eventually reducing his family to beggary. One day, after begging at his forr wife’s door, he was so overwheld by sha that he hid himself in a stove and died there.
Upon hearing this, the Heavenly Emperor, feeling that Zhang Sheng had not gone completely rotten and had shown signs of repentance, honoured him as the Stove Spirit. The twenty-third and twenty-fourth of the twelfth month of the lunar calendar were designated as the days for him to ascend to the heavens and report on the affairs of the mortal world, after which he would return to the stove.
It was believed among the people that as the Stove Spirit could ascend to the court of the Heavenly Emperor, he must be a remarkable deity, capable of bringing health, good fortune and wealth. Thus, they worshipped him on these two days.
Of course, this is rely a legend, a story not to be taken as true. More people believe that the stove spirit was initially a deity sent by the Heavenly Emperor to oversee the sufferings of the mortal world. In the hope for the Stove Spirit to speak favorably about them in front of the Heavenly Emperor, the people would prepare delicious food as offerings, wishing for a better next year.
No matter what the story, the tradition of worshipping the Stove Spirit on the twenty-third of the twelfth lunar month has been passed down to this day. People abide by this yearly tradition.
Qin Xue prepared lon seeds, fruits, and other offerings, waiting for Chu Molin. In many places, won are not allowed to be present during the stove sacrifice for fear of offending the deity.
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Such restrictions are not limited to one locality or festival; won are forbidden in nurous rituals throughout the country. Qin Xue found these peculiar prohibitions innurable, and to abide by them, she had to withdraw with the crowd. But in her view, this was plainly contempt for won’s status.
Chu Molin, along with their two sons and Jingtao, finished offering to the stove before starting their al. After this day, they would busy themselves cleaning the dust, washing mosquito nets, quilts, furniture, and so on in preparation for the New Year.
“Xue’er, do you want to go back to the village of the Qins for the New Year?” Chu Molin asked Qin Xue before going to sleep.
Chu Molin was now on vacation, and realizing that his wife hadn’t visited her parents for a long while, he thought it was a good ti to accompany her back ho and celebrate the New Year with her family.
“Is that possible?” Upon hearing this, Qin Xue’s eyes lit up. She missed her parents, especially her adorable younger sister.
“Silly girl, of course it’s possible. That’s your ho as well as mine, isn’t it? Shouldn’t we go ho and visit our families?” Chu Molin laughed. She couldn’t possibly think that he was stopping her from going, could she?
“Yes, let’s go back tomorrow.” Qin Xue nodded repeatedly. She had been here for so long without visiting her forr dwelling place; she now wanted to see if it was as she had imagined.
“Isn’t tomorrow a bit rushed? We haven’t bought anything yet; it’s not good to go back like this.” Chu Molin looked at his wife, who made decisions as quickly as the changing wind.
“Whatever we lack, we can take from the space. Besides, we’re a couple with three children, and Fang Xiu, pregnant and accompanied by Jingtao, what more can we carry? If we have to buy anything, we can do so after we get there; otherwise, I don’t know how we will carry everything back.” Qin Xue thought about it. Their group consisted of adults taking care of children, with no spare hands to carry anything.
“Did you ask Fang Xiu before deciding for her?” Chu Molin looked at the woman in his arms, unsure whether to object to the decision she had made.
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