Relocation of graves (I)
During the Qingming Festival, known as the time when the gates of the underworld open and Yin energy is at its peak, the calendar indicates that it is a suitable time for burials and grave relocation but unsuitable for joyful events.
Six days had passed since the last incident at the Public Security Bureau. After Qin Yu released Mo Yongxing from the handcuffs, the director of the Municipal Bureau arrived shortly thereafter. Qin Yu even wondered if Director Wei had arrived earlier but hesitated to enter because Mo Yongxing's handcuffs were still on.
Upon Director Wei's arrival, he held a party committee meeting with Hao Jianguo and directly announced the disposal of Ren Yuangpeng. Ren Yuangpeng was removed from the position of deputy director of the county public security bureau. Additionally, the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection would conduct a thorough investigation into Ren Yuangpeng's issues, not only jeopardizing his official position but also investigating his economic problems.
In our party, nothing is to be taken lightly. The Municipal Bureau was determined to handle Ren Yuangpeng. Given his style, it was clear that he was not clean. Imprisonment awaited him. However, all of this was no longer Qin Yu's concern. After Director Wei's arrival, the three of them left.
Because of Ah Long's intervention at the police station, Mo Yongxing developed a favorable impression of him. The two quickly became friends. After getting heavily drunk at a dance hall, the two intoxicated individuals argued loudly about blowing up the police station. Qin Yu, feeling helpless, had to ask Ah Long's subordinates to assist them to rest. He himself found a room on the second floor to sleep.
The next day, Mo Yongxing left. After Ah Long woke up, he had a deep conversation with Qin Yu. In the end, he decided to leave the dance hall to his subordinates and venture out into the outside world.
After the incident at the police station, Ah Long seemed to mature overnight. In his words, "I thought I, Brother Long, was someone important in the county town. As a result, I let others manipulate me. Now I understand that without power and influence, one can never truly control their own destiny."
Qin Yu was delighted that his younger brother understood this. The two brothers reminisced about their youthful years in high school, discussing their past crushes on girls from neighboring classes.
The next day, Ah Long boarded a train heading north. Qin Yu silently wished his brother well as he watched him leave. Ah Long had finally found his direction. As for himself, the obstacles in front of him and Meng Yao, could he break through them...
...
Regarding the arson case at the Triumph Dance Hall, there was a conclusion. The police investigation report indicated that the fire was caused by a sudden ignition of the wiring inside the partition. As for why the wiring suddenly caught fire, no one knew. In the end, it was attributed to aging wiring.
However, the Triumph Dance Hall had only been renovated for a few months. How could the wiring have aged so quickly? Qin Yu looked at the report provided by the police and shook his head with a smile. No one understood the reason behind it more than him. However, all of that was no longer important. Ah Long had left, and Ren Yuangpeng had been arrested. This matter had come to a close.
Early in the morning on Qingming Festival, Qin Yu's father and the Qin family's relatives went to pay respects to their ancestors. However, Qin Yu didn't accompany them because he had something more important to attend to. The design plan for the new cemetery that Qin Yu had drawn was completed, and today was the day when Hao Jianguo's grandfather's grave was to be relocated.
Qin Yu was dressed in a black long-sleeved shirt, reminiscent of the scholar attire from the 1990s. He appeared refined and elegant.
"Qin Yu, get in the car!"
A horn sounded at the entrance, and the window of the Hummer rolled down with Mo Yongxing's head sticking out, calling out.
"Miss Mo is here too!"
Qin Yu opened the car door and only then noticed that Mo Yongxin was also sitting inside. Mo Yongxin was wearing a white pleated dress today, with a high collar and a pair of flat white sneakers on her feet. Coupled with her fair and rosy skin, she looked like a snow-white princess.
"Mr. Qin, I heard today is the day you are helping your employer relocate their ancestors' graves. I specially came along to take a look," Mo Yongxin explained. Qin Yu didn't hesitate and directly got into the car. He owed the Mo family a favor for the police station matter, so since they wanted to go, he decided to join them.
At this moment, Hao Jianguo had already arrived at his grandfather's grave, accompanied by some people, including an elderly man in his sixties and several young children. They were likely relatives of the Hao family.
"Master Qin, everything is ready!" Hao Jianguo said excitedly, shaking hands with Qin Yu.
Qin Yu glanced at the time. The sun had not yet risen, but the altar had already been set up in front of the grave. On the table, there were incense burners, sacrificial offerings, white wine, glutinous rice, tea leaves, and limitless Yin-Yang water. Three one-and-a-half-meter tall incense sticks were inserted into the incense burners, emitting a lingering smoke.
Qin Yu walked in front of the altar, performed three bows with folded hands, and then picked up the limitless water from the table. He dipped his two fingers into it and flicked them towards the four directions while chanting:
"The most spirited ascent of the local land god to heaven and emergence from the gloom to the underworld For me to plead with you, do not stop on the day of accomplishment as recorded in the book of Shangqing."
While reciting the chant, Qin Yu stepped on the positions of the constellations. At this moment, there was a special aura emanating from him, giving off a hint of a celestial air.
"Sis, Qin Yu seems to be suitable to be a Taoist priest," Mo Yongxing said with a smile, observing from the side. Mo Yongxin glanced at him and interrupted, saying:
"Don't talk nonsense. He is worshipping the mountain gods and paying respects to the land, to avoid offending the Tai Sui!"
"Burn the three-foot peace talisman and summon the soul with a ray of light from the heavens!"
Qin Yu's expression turned solemn as he grabbed the peach wood sword from the table. The tip of the sword pierced a piece of talisman, and as he waved the peach wood sword in the air, the talisman fluttered and suddenly burst into flames.
"Sis, wha... What kind of trick is Qin Yu playing?" Mo Yongxing's mouth hung open wide when he saw the talisman on the peach wood sword suddenly ignite. This kind of scene only appeared in ghost-catching movies from Hong Kong.
"Descendants of the Hao family, come and wave the banners!"
As the talisman burned, it startled not only Mo Yongxing, but also many members of the Hao family who were witnessing it for the first time. Many people were left dumbfounded until Qin Yu's loud shout snapped them back to reality. An elderly man in his sixties trembled as he walked forward and picked up the soul-summoning banner from the table, waving it hesitantly.
After a while, a chilling wind blew, rustling the trees. The old man's soul-summoning banner fluttered loudly in the wind. When people thought back to the talisman self-igniting earlier, it sent shivers down their spines.
"Recite the prayer for our ancestors!"
Qin Yu furrowed his brow and said to Hao Jianguo. The latter quickly stepped forward and recited the prepared prayer, which conveyed the reasons for the descendants' intention to relocate the ancestral graves.
As the prayer concluded, the chilly wind gradually subsided and returned to normal. Mo Yongxing glanced around and muttered softly, "Could it really be this eerie?"
"Alright, now we can start digging!"
Having completed all these preparations, Qin Yu nodded at Hao Jianguo, who then gave a command. Several young men with shovels and pickaxes headed toward the gravesite. Qin Yu had already given them instructions on what to be mindful of during the excavation, so he didn't need to worry about it.
"Master Qin, please take a rest."
Hao Jianguo noticed that Qin Yu's face was covered in sweat, so he hastily handed him a towel. Qin Yu wiped his sweat and glanced at the young men who were digging, then leaned against a tree to take a break.
Indeed, he was a bit tired. The spells he recited were different from those of ordinary Taoists; he incorporated mental energy into them, and on top of that, he had to concentrate on stepping into the positions of the Nine Palaces. This mental strain was exhausting.
"Mr. Qin, what was that chilling wind just now?"
Mo Yongxin and Mo Yongxing approached Qin Yu. They were mere spectators at the moment, with nothing to do. Mo Yongxing even went to the gravesite to watch them dig. Regarding Mo Yongxing, Hao Jianguo had come to recognize his status and didn't say anything about it.
"If I were to say it was the ghost of the Hao family ancestors, would you believe me?" Qin Yu opened his eyes and asked in return.
"I believe!" Mo Yongxin unexpectedly didn't hesitate and nodded directly, surprising Qin Yu a little.
"Mr. Qin, would you like to know the reason why I stayed at Copper Bowl Mountain?" Mo Yongxin asked, without waiting for Qin Yu's response. Then she softly continued, "After we finish relocating the graves, I have something to discuss with you."
"Master Qin, we've finished digging!"
Qin Yu was about to respond when Hao Jianguo's voice came through. That man was fast indeed. The grave had already been dug open, so Qin Yu hurriedly walked over.
The grave was opened, revealing the coffin inside. Some people had already pulled back the sunshade cloth above. Qin Yu observed for a while, nodded, and said, "You can open the coffin now."
Two of the young men picked up crowbars upon hearing Qin Yu's instructions. They loosened a corner of the coffin lid, creating a small gap. Immediately, a foul, putrid smell emerged. Qin Yu grabbed a handful of sticky rice and threw it into the coffin. The others quickly moved away.
When opening a coffin, the decaying body inside would inevitably emit a strong odor. Opening a small gap was necessary to allow for air circulation. After waiting for about ten minutes, without smelling the odor again, Qin Yu instructed everyone to completely remove the coffin lid.
The lid was lifted, revealing a well-preserved skeleton. Underneath the skeleton was a piece of red cloth that had somehow remained intact. It seemed that the coffin had been well sealed. Even after more than twenty years, it had not decomposed.
"Master Qin, what should we do now?" Hao Jianguo never expected that his grandfather's remains would be so well-preserved as a skeleton. Qin Yu smiled and said, "With such an intact skeleton, we must not damage it. Find a few people to take a piece of red cloth and place it beneath the skeleton to lift it out intact."
For some reason, Qin Yu felt no fear when faced with the bones of the deceased. He even touched the mandible bone with his hand. It seemed he was truly suited for this line of work.
Carefully, the group lifted the skeleton, some timidly covering their eyes or turning their heads away. Qin Yu guided those holding the red cloth to lift the skeleton and place it into a golden coffin that had been prepared in advance.
The golden coffin was already lined with red fabric and filled with various offerings. Qin Yu, wearing red gloves, reached inside and placed a bundle of cotton beneath the skull. He then carefully felt between the mandible and skull, ensuring they were properly aligned. After that, he took a colorful thread and tied it around the skeleton's feet, wrapping it around the entire body.
From outside the coffin, Qin Yu's face appeared as if it was in contact with the skeleton. Mo Yongxing considered herself courageous, but she still dared not approach the skeleton at such close proximity.
"Sprinkle tea leaves, seal the coffin!"
Once everything was in order, Qin Yu shouted to Hao Jianguo. Hao Jianguo quickly took a handful of tea leaves and scattered them over the skeleton. A carpenter brought three nails and hammered one into the center and the other two on the sides of the coffin lid. Then, they covered it with a red cloth.
"Go beneath the original coffin and fetch a bag of blood-soaked soil, and put it in a red cloth bag. We'll take it with us later!"
Blood-soaked soil referred to the soil within eight inches beneath the original coffin. Due to the decomposition of the body inside the coffin, this soil often absorbed the blood and fluids, thus earning its name. It was considered part of the deceased and needed to be transferred to the new gravesite.
After everything was done, the elderly member of the Hao family held the soul-summoning banner and led the way. The eight young men followed, carrying the coffin. Together, they descended from the mountain and placed the coffin onto a vehicle, heading towards the new burial ground.