MTL - Twilight Boundary

Chapter 52 Red Incense Candle

“When a red light shines, evil spirits will not disturb you, and all diseases will disappear. When a red light shines, people and horses will be strong, and you will attract wealth..."

"When you join our Red Lantern Club, it doesn't matter whether you are a clerk or a shopkeeper. You are all the disciples of the Red Lantern Empress. You must kowtow to the Red Lantern and think of our Red Lantern Empress in your heart. Cutting blood and eating food will not attract evil spirits. Walking at night You are not afraid of bumping into ghosts on the road, and you are not afraid of headaches when you drink too much wine..."

　　　…”

The young men took turns to offer incense and memorized their respective brands. Then the incense owner gave a lecture, which was only half-written and easy to understand.

Huma listened carefully and felt that this person who worshiped the Red Lantern Empress was somewhat similar to Lao Huotangzi.

But he didn’t understand the more specific details, and the teenagers around him were even more confused. It wasn’t until the lecture was over and the food started to be served that they became excited.

 Unexpectedly, it’s not really just the meat and wine in the front, the steamed buns in the middle, and the steamed buns at the end.

These things do exist. For example, only on the red cloth table in front is there a bottle of wine on each table, the kind that the second master brought to drink before. There is indeed a basket of white-faced steamed buns on the green cloth table. On the white cloth table , and indeed there was only a bowl of steamed buns with mixed noodles.

 But in addition to these, there are meat dishes on every table, a fat chicken base, a bowl of Tai Sui meat, and several plates of vegetables.

 The young men all stared at it, unable to stop their eyeballs from falling into the bowl.

For a while, you and I were fighting over each other, and the food was very lively.

　　"The fates are separated..."

Hu Ma was mingling among the crowd, thinking silently.

 He was reminded by Brother Erguotou earlier and knew that it was important to burn incense when entering the Red Lantern Club.

Hongdeng Niangniang Guild has a great business. Although those who have just joined the Guild are all associates, the division of labor among them is also different.

Among them, those who burn green incense are the most ordinary clerks, who look after the mines, guard the courtyards, and are on duty for transporting trucks. They are literally the bottom members of the Red Cross and Lantern Lady Society.

The fate of those who burn white incense is even more chaotic. The smart ones learn abacus business, account management and medicine, while the stupid ones sweep and run errands to fill in vacancies and spare time. Some have to go to the mines to collect harvests when they are busy. However, most of them belong to the latter category. By.

 As for Hongxiang, she has the smallest number of people and is also the most mysterious.

 Their treatment is undoubtedly the best. Not only do they get the best meals, but after eating the meals, they are also different from others.

They entered the house early, mostly young men in brocade clothes and those who were stocky and strong, and occupied the main room with the best conditions. Dayangzhaizi lived in the east wing from the beginning, but the ragged young men were directly arranged in the stables.

 But now that they had finished burning the incense, the group of ragged young men immediately robbed the main room and threw other people's belongings out.

 Early in the morning and late in the evening, the helpers who came to distribute meals pushed carts. The group of ragged young men who burned red incense also went directly to eat the first bowl. Some even picked meat from it without ceremony.

 The others could only watch. No one dared to move until they finished eating, otherwise they would be scolded by the steward and other gang members.

“Well, not only do they eat the best, they live in the best, and I heard that they are usually fed with blood food...”

All the young men were envious when they saw it. Li Wazi, who came from the village, was also envious and said: "If I had known, we would have robbed him. With our ability, we may not be able to rob him!"

Hu Ma heard this and just sneered: "It's not too late for you to go now."

 “Speak to the steward and they will let you in!”

　　　…”

Li Wazi thought he had angered Hu Ma, so he was cautious and did not dare to speak.

Hu Ma didn’t explain anything, but just watched with cold eyes. These ragged young men, who were quite proud of themselves, were enjoying their special treatment.

Until three days later at night, I suddenly heard a faint laughter, which was strange and gloomy.

Hu Ma woke up from her dream and saw a flash of red light in the courtyard. She leaned up and looked outside. She saw that in the empty courtyard, two lanterns as red as blood appeared at some point.

The two stewards carried lanterns and were waiting in the courtyard. The group of ragged young men who had burned red incense and occupied the living room in the main room walked out of the main room one by one in a daze, barefoot and shirtless, and followed the two men. Behind the steward, he walked out of the yard in a daze.

 Outside the courtyard, the Hongxiang disciples who came out of other houses had also followed.

They chased the red light held up by the stewards in front of them, and walked quietly through the streets and alleys in a daze, like zombies.

 The picture is silent, but there is a kind of eerieness that makes one's scalp numb.

Huma sighed lowly in her heart, and couldn't help but think of what Erguotou told her before.

“Logically speaking, we are all second-generation people, so we shouldn’t be so high-minded, but I have to remind you.”

When he mentioned this at that time, there was also a hint of mystery in his voice: "The Red Lantern Society naturally values ​​red incense as the most precious thing. Even the shopkeeper who burns three pillars of incense must be polite when meeting the disciples who burn red incense." , I dare not take a stand."

“Not only because they work hard for the gang, but because they will soon learn the magic of exorcising evil spirits and conquering ghosts. It is difficult to prevent them, but brothers..."

 “…This is not the right way.”

“From the moment these people burn red incense, ninety-nine percent of their lives are no longer theirs.”

"Every year, the Red Lantern Society buys children without fathers, mothers, and no other options from Yahang and the Beggar Gang. They are given ample food and clothing, a wide bed and a thick quilt, so that they can burn red incense, worship their empress, and be red. Seventy percent of the Lantern Festival’s business depends on them..."

　　　…”

　　　…”

"As expected, there are three pillars of incense under the red lamp altar. Each one has a different destiny..." Because Hu Ma already had a clue in his heart.

These people who burn red incense have a special status. In fact, they are the real disciples of the Red Lantern Empress Society.

 Others are really just guys.

 However, when these people become disciples, they also become real “human beings”!

Burning one’s life to drive away gods and raise ghosts, one may never know when one will run out of fuel and die in the wilderness.

It can be seen from the time when they were robbing the red incense that not everyone in those brocade-clad youths and the second-generation gang members with extraordinary status robbed them, and even those who wanted to rob them did not really fight with their lives. Otherwise, these ragged youths would not necessarily be opponent.

This is a major matter related to one's wealth and life, but even the second master didn't tell him, which shows that the second master doesn't know, and the young man's character, worshiping the Red Lantern Empress, who doesn't want to be the best, but doesn't know, and fights for his life The robbery was only a dead end.

　　The next day when I got up, I saw that the disciple who burned the red incense was missing. The young men were also surprised. Some of them wanted to take the main hall back to live, but Hu Ma knew that this was meaningless and was only waiting for the arrangements for them.

They just went into the city to pay homage to the incense owner. Perhaps they also had the purpose of selecting Hongxiang's disciples from among them.

 But the vast majority of people still want to leave.

The Red Lantern Club does not need to support so many people in the city. Now that the disciples who burn red incense have settled down, it is time for them, the guys who burn green incense, to rush towards their own financial future.

 “How have you been spending the past few days?”

 After waiting quietly for two days in this house, the mustachioed steward who had accepted the second master's three young men arrived.

Hu Ma responded to him respectfully.

The little bearded man was in charge, but he was also kind-hearted. He asked Hu Ma a few questions about what incense was burned and what happened to the people who came with him.

After learning that they all burned green incense, he smiled and said: "You are lucky. If you can burn red incense, then I won't talk too much. If you burn white incense, I can't help. It all depends on you." Good fortune, but since they have all burned green incense, it’s time for me to ask.”

“When you join our Red Lantern Society, do you plan to earn some money and return to the village to get married, or do you want to learn some skills?”

　　　…”

Hu Ma said hurriedly: "Getting married is a big deal, but my family also told me before I came here that I should learn more skills if I can."

“He is indeed a boy who can carry it clearly. No wonder your family is willing to give me this good thing.”

The mustache manager smiled and said: "We don't accept things for nothing. Since you want to learn my skills, I will arrange a good place for you. Qingyan Zhuangzi has a new cabinet built the year before last. It is in need of a clerk. You want to go there?" Climb up and learn some skills, then go where it suits you.”

"Of course, I'm just sending you there. Whether you can succeed or not depends on the old shopkeeper!"

　　　…”

Hu Ma hurriedly agreed: "There's work, there's work."

After waiting for only two days, the steward changed into a green robe and came to Huma's door:

“It’s time, the bedding is rolled up, we’ve had lunch at noon, and we’re going to set off.”

"ah?"

 The friends from Dayangzhai and others who were named were all a little dumbfounded.

After burning incense, they stayed here for a few days. They had food delivered to them every day, and they lived in a leisurely manner. Some even thought they were coming to the city to enjoy the blessings, but now they suddenly want to leave?

I felt depressed in my heart, but the seven or eight guys who were called by their names quickly packed up their bedding and waited patiently.

At noon, the meal was quite good. There were rare white-flour steamed buns, and there were also a few large pieces of fat meat in the dishes. After eating and drinking, the young men followed the steward out.

The consul rode a big green mule, but Hu Ma, a few friends from Dayangzhai, and four or five other Qingxiang guys who came from unknown places were not treated like this, so they all carried their bedding and rolled up their legs.

After leaving the city from the west gate, we turned all the way south, passing through villages and walking for several hours.

Finally, before nightfall, we came to a town. Looking from a distance, we could see hundreds of households, a few of which were cramped, with a desolate mountain road outside, extending straight to Laoyin Mountain, which looked like a creeping monster under the night. Go inside.

Their destination was clear at a glance. It was a large house built on the edge of the town. It had white walls and blue tiles, and a very eye-catching large red lantern hung at the door.

 Unexpectedly, there are still some traces of burning incense and offering offerings in front of this door.

Who will burn incense in front of the house?

Doesn’t this mean that the people in the house are worshiped as dead people?

The guys who came with us had just experienced the bustle of the city, but they were sent to this desolate and remote town, so they felt a little disappointed.

 “This manager, after receiving the benefits, is really doing something for him...”

Huma was silently thinking that this manager with a mustache was not a deceiver.

Brother Erguotou has already told me about the ways of the Red Lantern Lady Club. The more remote it is, the less evil it is...

Of course, the most important thing for you is to learn the skills of a year-keeper.

 This depends on the specific situation.

 (End of this chapter)