Fighting to destiny

Chapter 2

Now that the old willow tree has died, they are naturally very sad.

"Quiet!" The old village chief shouted sternly, scaring everyone to shut up immediately.

The old village chief kowtowed three times to the altar and then said loudly: "I, with the 263 people of Liujia Village, humbly kowtow to the God of Heaven and the four gods: Since our ancestors established the village here, it has been more than 600 years. We have experienced droughts, floods, and wars, and we don't know how many. Fortunately, we have been blessed by heaven and earth and the gods of the four directions, helping the people of Liujia Village to survive the disasters every time. With the blessing of the gods of the four seasons, wind, rain, frost, and snow, they come in time, so that the grains are abundant, the livestock are prosperous, and then there are hundreds of people in Liujia Village. The surname lives and works in peace and contentment, and is passed down from generation to generation, with the spark of the family burning. This is a gift from the gods of heaven and earth. Today is the Spring Equinox Festival, and we should offer pig heads and three animals to repay the gods of heaven and earth for their protection. However, the drought is raging, and every household has to live on a few rice, and they are in hardship and have to survive. Today, we offer three bowls of white water as a temporary substitute, and we will double it when we get through this difficulty. I hope the gods of heaven and earth will sympathize with our sufferings and don’t blame us. "

"I hope the gods of heaven and earth will sympathize with our sufferings and don’t blame us. "Everyone shouted.

"Our ancestors taught us not to hunt in spring and not to cut down trees in summer to maintain the forests.

However, the drought has left us with no other way to survive. We have to go against our ancestors' teachings and go into the mountains to hunt to find a ray of hope.

The spirits of our ancestors in heaven will surely understand our suffering and not punish us for breaking the commandments. I hope the gods of heaven and earth and the spirits of our ancestors in heaven will protect us and keep our sons safe in the mountains and return safely."

"I hope the gods of heaven and earth and the spirits of our ancestors in heaven will protect us and keep our sons safe in the mountains and return safely." Everyone followed the prayer.

The nine kowtows were over.

The old village chief kowtowed and stood up. He turned around, slowly smiled, waved to the crowd, and called, "Big boy, little soldier, come here."

Two young men came out of the crowd. One of them was dark-skinned, with a strong back thick eyebrows, and big eyes. His name was Niu Big Boy.

The other boy was half a head shorter than Niu Dawa, with the same dark complexion. Although he was not strong and muscular, he had clear lines, was well-proportioned and strong, and had an ordinary appearance, neither ugly nor handsome. His name was Zhang Xiaozu.

The two were the same age and had just turned sixteen this year. According to local customs, they should have the ceremony of adulthood on the Spring Equinox Day.

Niu Dawa and Zhang Xiaozu walked forward and knelt under the old willow tree as instructed by the old village chief. The atmosphere at the scene was finally no longer so dull and depressing, and laughter rang out in the crowd.

"Are these two the only ones who will hold their coming-of-age ceremony this year?"

"Yes. Too few. Look at Zhangjia Village next door, there are thirteen this year."

Pa!

Before the man finished speaking, an old woman raised her hand and slapped him on the back of his head. The old woman frowned and scolded: "Stinky boy, you also know that our village is not prosperous.

I usually ask you to work harder on your wife and give me more fat grandchildren, but you just don't listen. Now you despise the young man."

"Mom, what nonsense are you talking about." The man was so embarrassed by his mother's words that he wanted to find a c***k in the ground to crawl into.

His wife was even more unbearable, her face was as red as a monkey's butt.

The atmosphere was also brought up by the old woman's joke, and everyone talked and laughed around.

"Oh, I'm getting old. Da Wa and Xiao Zu had grown up before I knew it. We are old."

"That's right. As the saying goes, don't compare your age with children. You will get old if you compare."

"Old Niu, should Da Wa stay at home for this hunting?"

"No. I plan to let him follow and gain some experience. There are two half-grown boys at home. If something happens, the Niu family will not be able to break off the line."

"Pfft, pfft, what nonsense are you talking about."

"Ahem——" The old village chief cleared his throat twice, suppressed the voices of the crowd, and said to Niu Da Wa and Zhang Xiao Zu who were kneeling on the ground: "Dawa, from now on, your full name is Niu Guangmao, and your courtesy name is Letian, which means Letian knows his destiny."

According to local customs, children only have their milk names before they become adults. Their full names should be given together with their courtesy names on the day of the adulthood ceremony and recorded in the family tree. If it is a girl, she will only have her full name and her courtesy name should be given when she is engaged.

Niu Dawa opened his mouth happily, his big white teeth shone brightly in the sun, but he scratched the back of his head hard. He could not read many words and did not know what "be contented and know your fate" meant, so he looked confused.

"Be contented and know your fate, be happy and worry-free, and live a carefree life." The old village chief knew his confusion and explained.

Niu Dawa understood and was extremely happy. He immediately kowtowed and thanked: "Thank you for the name, elder."

"My-my Dawa has grown up." Dawa's mother in the crowd looked at her son, feeling a lot of emotion in her heart, and her eyes gradually moistened.

The old village chief stroked his white beard and nodded, then looked at Zhang Xiaozu, his eyes suddenly became pitying, he sighed, and said: "Child, you were abandoned under this old willow tree when you were a cradle. Except for the name "Zhang Xiaozu", there is nothing else to indicate your identity.

Because you have a name and a surname, we cannot adopt you to our knees and raise you, but let you grow up eating food from other families. It is not because we dislike you, but because we respect your parents for giving you birth and naming you.

Although I don't know where you are from, at least you know your surname and name, at least you know your ancestors' surnames."

"I understand." Zhang Xiaozu kowtowed heavily, then turned and kowtowed to the crowd, choking and saying: "If it weren't for the elders raising and caring for me, there would be no Zhang Xiaozu in the world, so everyone in Liujia Village is my closest relative, and I will never forget your great kindness."

"Stinky boy, if your parents hadn't left you a name, I would have taken you in as my own son."

"Good boy, you are a man who values ​​friendship and loyalty."

"Good boy, good boy!"

"We are so happy to see you grow up."

Everyone was talking, mostly with praise, because Zhang Xiaozu was indeed a well-behaved and sensible child. He would rush to do any work in the village, and he was sweet-mouthed and smart, very likable.

"Child," the old village chief called Zhang Xiaozu back and asked, "Do you hate your biological parents?"

Zhang Xiaozu tilted his head and said nothing. He had asked himself this question no less than a hundred times in the dead of night. At first, his answer was hatred, very hatred, hatred for why they gave birth to him without raising him.

But as he grew older and the elders of Liujia Village taught him, he gradually let go of the hatred in his heart, but he didn't have a good impression of him. He could only say that he didn't hate or want to.

But now, his inner thoughts have become complicated, he hates and wants to.

"I don't know. I'd like to listen to the village chief's advice." Zhang Xiaozu couldn't explain what he felt, so he had to ask the elder for help.

Elders have great wisdom.

"Let me show you something." The old village chief smiled and stroked his white beard, reached into his arms, took out a piece of white cloth, slowly unfolded it, and handed it to Zhang Xiaozu.