I became an immortal in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 85 Joy and Sorrow

He looked over.

The cat also craned its head out, staring with its round eyes.

An elderly woman, trembling, stood by the roadside, holding a broken, empty begging bowl. Her young son and idle men from the county were smiling and congratulating her, each receiving a coin or two.

The old lady followed along, shaking the empty bowl.

For some reason, the empty bowl was making a clanging sound.

The old woman kept muttering to herself, but no one could hear what she was saying.

On their wedding day, someone was begging for food in the street, waving an empty bowl. The bride and groom's faces immediately darkened. The drumming music behind them also stopped.

The best man standing nearby saw this, stepped forward, and took out three coins.

He said in a kind and gentle voice, "Grandma, would you mind going somewhere else? My brother is getting married today, so I'd like to offer my congratulations."

The old lady didn't understand, and while holding onto the best man's wrist, she muttered something.

The country folk had tremendous strength; the best man cried out in pain, but still couldn't break free.

"old lady……"

There were other people looking around.

"But we don't have enough money?"

Another person ran up and added five more coins to the bowl.

He urged, "Hurry up, or we'll miss the auspicious time!"

In the wedding procession, an older man, observing the white-clad old woman who was clutching an empty bowl and muttering incessantly, had already changed his expression.

Li Bai wondered, "Why can't this old woman understand human speech?"

The cat meowed softly, hid behind Jiang She's legs, and hissed at the old beggar woman.

Jiang She held the cat in his arms and stroked its fur gently.

He looked at the old woman dressed in plain clothes, then suddenly stepped forward, took out the eight coins from the bowl, and handed them back to the best man.

The best man broke out in a cold sweat.

Bewildered, she stammered, "Young man, why did you bring the money back?"

The old woman holding the chipped bowl she used for begging was also stunned.

They stood there, stunned.

Jiang She said gently, "Madam, please let go."

He spoke in a gentle and refined manner, and the old lady, who had been muttering incoherently and couldn't understand him before, suddenly understood and became very polite, releasing her grip on the best man's hand.

The best man looked at his wrist, which had been gripped so tightly it had turned blue and purple, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank you repeatedly.

The groom stepped forward and said gratefully, "Thank you, brother."

"Easy to do."

The groom turned around and saw the old woman, like a lingering tail, following the wedding procession and the others who were asking for money and drinking at the wedding banquet.

I couldn't help but ask with concern.

"That old lady kept following us, this..."

Jiang She thought for a moment.

"May I ask for a cup of wine at your wedding?"

He was dressed in a long, wide-sleeved blue robe, and held a harmless-looking, tiger-headed cat in his arms. A man in brocade robes stood to the side speaking; he also seemed like a good person.

The groom was overjoyed and gripped Jiang She's hand tightly: "That's the best!"

Jiang She pulled it out forcefully.

He saw the groom turn around and whisper a few words to the bride. The best man, ever so reliable, quickly arranged for the musicians to resume playing. An old man behind them beckoned a layabout, gave him a few instructions, and the layabout nimbly ran off.

With this passing young man present, the wedding procession became much more relaxed.

After walking for a while, the group arrived at a large courtyard. The alleyway stretched out from the entrance, with strips of blue cloth laid out along the way. The bride stepped on these strips, a custom called "passing the mat."

Upon reaching the door, they stepped over a saddle, a symbol of peace. Jiang She took his seat and watched from afar as the newlyweds paid their respects to their parents.

Relatives and friends scattered red dates, longans, and copper coins on the couple, hoping they would have a son soon.

The groom laughed as if he had just won several strings of cash, while the bride in green, shy and timid, dared not look up, her face as red as a sunset.

"Oh dear, still shy—"

"Lin Erlang looks quite handsome. How is his education? Will he be able to get into the county school?"

There were many red papers and tables set up in front and behind the courtyard. The cook and his helpers were working up a sweat while stewing the food, and the aroma of the food filled the air.

Someone threw bamboo into a burning fire. The bamboo crackled and popped, raising clouds of dust. This was the simplest and most genuine way to ward off evil.

The guests were all smiles, huddled together and gossiped about everyone's business. Jiang She listened for a while, thoroughly enjoying himself.

The groom came out and, with his sharp eyes, spotted Jiang She and his companion sitting in the corner.

He hurried over and helped the two up, saying as he walked, "Hey, why are you sitting here? Get up, get up, I'll take you to the front to sit down."

This seat is next to the main table.

The food smelled delicious.

On the table was a red ram's branch, which was actually roasted lamb chops and roasted lamb leg, symbolizing good fortune. The host was very generous to have such a dish at a wedding banquet. There was also scallion and vinegar chicken and sashimi, thinly sliced, crystal clear, which tasted extremely delicious when dipped in garlic, mustard, orange peel, and fermented black beans.

Winter mallow is cooked into a vegetable soup, and vinegared celery is refreshing and delicious. The staple foods are flatbread, steamed cakes, and shepherd's purse wontons.

The wedding banquet also included candied fruit and apricot jelly, which were fragrant and sweet, and the sweet aroma wafted from afar, which the cat longed to smell.

This was the grand feast that the people of the county town were enjoying at this time.

Many of the people in the audience were familiar with each other, making for a more lively atmosphere.

After a while, an old gentleman came over with a cane and was seated at Jiang She's table.

Looking at the frail old woman from afar, he frowned deeply.

Jiang She discerned something amiss; this must be a geomancer hired by that knowledgeable old man to help with divination and choosing an auspicious date. Sensing something was amiss, he quickly paid to have him brought over.

The groom's parents came out and were startled when they saw the old lady in white, holding a bowl and muttering to herself.

He hurried over and politely thanked Jiang She.

"My second son said that it was fortunate that they had a husband, otherwise they might have missed the auspicious time."

"You're too kind, sir."

The two were still a little worried. Watching the old woman pacing back and forth in the courtyard, carrying a bowl, they asked anxiously:
"We're not very knowledgeable, we don't know what that old lady does."

"Is it... an evil thing?"

They mumbled the last few words, rushing over them as if afraid the old lady would hear them. It was such a joyous occasion as their son's wedding, and it was considered very unlucky.

Pity the parents of the world.

Li Bai and the geomancer also looked over.

Jiang She put down his chopsticks and said:

"This is an ominous sign."

Lin Erlang's parents were startled. "Are you alright?"

Jiang She looked at the couple, whose hair was streaked with white and whose backs were hunched over, and who seemed filled with worry, and then changed to an even gentler way of speaking:
“Sometimes, when people are involved in weddings or funerals, they may be struck by this kind of evil energy. Some people may experience fever, dizziness, or disorientation. Others may lose money, get into gossip and disputes, or have their temperaments change. Some people may also be afraid of gods, Buddhas, and talismans.”

"But it doesn't matter anymore."

"Be careful not to put money in the bowl of the 'Joyful Demon'. Just pretend you didn't see it. Usually, after an hour or two, the 'Joyful Demon' will leave."

The couple nodded repeatedly, thanking them and adding more food to their plate.

She whispered to her relatives, and soon everyone in the courtyard kept their distance from the old woman in plain clothes.

aside.

The geomancer stared at Jiang She for a long time.

Li Bai remembered something, picked up his wine cup, and asked, "Sir, what did you say before about being destined to be apart?"

【Ask for monthly ticket】

　Thank you "Miracle Universe" for the donation!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)